Methods of using antibodies against human IL-22

ABSTRACT

The present application provides human antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to the human interleukin-22 (IL-22) and methods of using those antibodies, for example, in diagnosing, treating or preventing inflammatory disorders, autoimmune diseases, allergies, septic shock, infectious disorders, transplant rejection, cancer, and other immune system disorders.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/474,479, filed 29 May 2009 (allowed), which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/707,986, filed 20 Feb. 2007 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,811,567), which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/774,595, filed Feb. 21, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is relied upon and incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to antibodies, e.g., human antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind interleukin-22 (IL-22), in particular, human IL-22, and their use in regulating IL-22-associated activities. The antibodies disclosed herein are useful in diagnosing, preventing, and/or treating IL-22 associated disorders, e.g., autoimmune disorders, including arthritis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Antigens initiate immune responses and activate the two largest populations of lymphocytes: T cells and B cells. After encountering antigen, T cells proliferate and differentiate into effector cells, while B cells proliferate and differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells. These effector cells secrete and/or respond to cytokines, which are small proteins (<about 30 kDa) secreted by lymphocytes and other cell types.

Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a class II cytokine that shows sequence homology to IL-10. Its expression is up-regulated in T cells by IL-9 or ConA (Dumoutier L. et al. (2000) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97(18):10144-9). Further studies have shown that expression of IL-22 mRNA is induced in vivo in response to LPS administration, and that IL-22 modulates parameters indicative of an acute phase response (Dumoutier L. et al. (2000); Pittman D. et al. (2001) Genes and Immunity 2:172). In addition, IL-22 enhances the expression of antimicrobial peptides associated with host defense, including β-defensin, S100A7, S100A8, and S100A. Wolk et al., Immunity, 21:241-54 (2004); Boniface et al., J. Immunol. 174:3695-3702 (2005); Liang et al., J. Exp. Med., 203(10):2271-79 (2006). Taken together, these observations indicate that IL-22 plays a role in inflammation (Kotenko S. V. (2002) Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews 13(3):223-40).

IL-22 is believed to bind to a receptor complex consisting of IL-22R and IL-10R2, two members of the type II cytokine receptor family (CRF2) (Xie M. H. et al. (2000) J Biol Chem 275(40):31335-9; Kotenko S. V. et al. (2001) J Biol Chem 276(4):2725-32). Both chains of the IL-22 receptor are expressed constitutively in a number of organs. Epithelial cell lines derived form these organs are responsive to IL-22 in vitro (Kotenko S. V. (2002) Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews 13(3):223-40). IL-22 induces activation of the JAK/STAT3 and ERK pathways, as well as intermediates of other MAPK pathways (Dumoutier L. et al. (2000) supra; Xie M. H. et al. (2000) supra; Dumoutier L. et al. (2000) J Immunol 164(4):1814-9; Kotenko S. V. et al. (2001) J Biol Chem 276(4):2725-32; Lejeune, D. et al. (2002) J Biol Chem 277(37):33676-82).

CRF2 members are receptors for IFNα/β, IFNγ, coagulation factor VIIa, IL-10 and the IL-10 related proteins IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, IL-24, IL-26, as well as the recently identified IFN-like cytokines, IL-28 and IL-29 (Kotenko S. V. (2002) Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews 13(3):223-40; Kotenko, S. V. et al. (2000) Oncogene 19(21):2557-65; Sheppard, P. et al. (2003) Nature Immunology 4(1):63-8; Kotenko, S. V. et al. (2003) Nature Immunology 4(1):69-77). In addition to these membrane receptors, the CRF2 family also includes a soluble protein, IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP), which is specific for IL-22 and blocks its activity (Dumoutier, L. et al. (2001) J Immunol 166(12):7090-5; Kotenko, S. V. et al. (2001) J Immunol 166(12):7096-103; Xu, W. et al. (2001) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98(17):9511-6; Gruenberg, B. H. et al. (2001) Genes & Immunity 2(6):329-34; Wei C-C et al. (2003) Genes & Immunity 4:204-211). While the IL-22 receptor complex is unique for IL-22, each chain (i.e., IL-22R and IL-10R2) is shared with other CRF2 members to define functional receptors for other cytokines, including IL-20, IL-24 (IL-22R/IL-20R2), IL-28, IL-29 (IFN-λR1/IL-10R2) and IL-10 (IL-10R1/IL-10R2) (Dumoutier, L. et al. (2001) J. Immunol. 167(7):3545-9; Wang, M. et al. (2002) J Biol Chem 277(9):7341-7; Parrish-Novak, J. et al. (2002) J Biol Chem 277(49):47517-23; Kotenko, S. V. et al. (1997) EMBO J. 16(19):5894-903; Spencer, S. D. et al. (1998) J Exp Med 187(4):571-8).

Both chains of the CRF2-composed receptor are necessary for signal transduction. One chain of the composed receptor has been historically defined as a ligand binding chain (e.g., IFNγR1) based on its high affinity for the cytokine. The other chain (e.g., IFNγR2) has been characterized as a helper or accessory chain, and shows minimal affinity for the cytokine alone (Kotenko, S. V. et al. (2000) Oncogene 19(21):2557-65). For IL-22, IL-22R is the high affinity receptor subunit with IL-10R2 subsequently binding to the IL-22/IL-22R complex (Li, J. et al. (2004) Int. Immunopharmacol. 4(5):673-708; Logsdon, N. J. et al. (2002) J. Interferon Cytokine Res 22(11):1099-1112).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application provides, at least in part, IL-22 binding agents such as antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind to interleukin-22 (“IL-22”), in particular, human IL-22, with high affinity and specificity. The antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof of the present invention are also referred to herein as “anti-IL-22 antibodies” and “fragments thereof,” respectively. In one embodiment, the antibody or fragment thereof reduces, inhibits, or antagonizes IL-22 activity. Such antibodies can be used to regulate immune responses or IL-22-associated disorders by antagonizing IL-22 activity. In other embodiments, the anti-IL-22 antibody can be used diagnostically, or as a targeting antibody to deliver a therapeutic or a cytotoxic agent to an IL-22-expressing cell. Thus, the anti-IL-22 antibodies of the invention are useful in diagnosing, treating, and/or preventing IL-22-associated disorders, e.g., autoimmune disorders, e.g., arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus-associated arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis), scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosis, HIV, Sjogren's syndrome, vasculitis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroiditis, dermatitis (including atopic dermatitis and eczematous dermatitis), myasthenia gravis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, colitis, diabetes mellitus (type I); inflammatory conditions of, e.g., the skin (e.g., psoriasis), cardiovascular system (e.g., atherosclerosis), nervous system (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), liver (e.g., hepatitis), kidney (e.g., nephritis) and pancreas (e.g., pancreatitis); cardiovascular disorders, e.g., cholesterol metabolic disorders, oxygen free radical injury, ischemia; disorders associated with wound healing; respiratory disorders, e.g., asthma and COPD (e.g., cystic fibrosis); acute inflammatory conditions (e.g., endotoxemia, sepsis and septicaemia, toxic shock syndrome and infectious disease); transplant rejection and allergy. In one embodiment, the IL-22-associated disorder is, an arthritic disorder, e.g., a disorder chosen from one or more of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis; a respiratory disorder (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); or an inflammatory condition of, e.g., the skin (e.g., psoriasis), cardiovascular system (e.g., atherosclerosis), nervous system (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), liver (e.g., hepatitis), kidney (e.g., nephritis), pancreas (e.g., pancreatitis), and gastrointestinal organs, e.g., colitis, Crohn's disease and IBD.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention features an isolated antibody that binds to IL-22, in particular, human IL-22. In certain embodiments, the anti-IL-22 antibody may have at least one of the following characteristics: (1) it is a monoclonal or single specificity antibody; (2) it is a human antibody; (3) it is an in vitro generated antibody; (4) it is an in vivo generated antibody (e.g., transgenic system); (5) it binds to IL-22 with an association constant of at least 10¹² M⁻¹; (6) it binds to IL-22 with an association constant of at least 10¹¹ M⁻¹; (7) it binds to IL-22 with an association constant of at least 10¹⁰ M⁻¹; (8) it binds to IL-22 with an association constant of at least 10⁹ M⁻¹; (9) it binds to IL-22 with an association constant of at least 10⁶ M⁻¹; (10) it binds to IL-22 with a dissociation constant of 500 nM or less; (11) it binds to IL-22 with a dissociation constant of 10 nM or less; (12) it binds to IL-22 with a dissociation constant of 150 pM or less; (13) it binds to IL-22 with a dissociation constant of 60 pM or less; (14) it inhibits binding of IL-22 to IL-22R or a receptor complex of IL-22R and IL-10R2 with an IC₅₀ of 10 nM or less; (15) it blocks IL-22 mediated proliferation of IL-22 receptor engineered BaF3 cells with an IC₅₀ of 1 nM or less in one embodiment, with an IC₅₀ of 150 pM or less in another embodiment, with an IC₅₀ of 100 pM or less in another embodiment, and with an IC₅₀ of 10 pM or less in another embodiment; and (16) it blocks IL-22 mediated GROa secretion from HT29 cells with an IC₅₀ of 1 nM or less in one embodiment, with an IC₅₀ of 150 pM or less in another embodiment, and with an IC₅₀ of 10 pM or less in another embodiment. IL-22 mediated BaF3 cell proliferation and IL-22 mediated GROa secretion from HT29 cells can be measured as described in the examples.

Nonlimiting illustrative embodiments of the antibodies of the invention are referred to herein as “GIL01,” “GIL16,” “GIL45,” “GIL60,” “GIL68,” “GIL92,” “097D09,” “062A09,” “062G05,” “087B03,” “367D04,” “368D04,” “166B06,” “166G05,” “375G06,” “376B10,” “354A08,” “355B06,” “355E04,” and “356A11.” These antibodies can be germlined or non-germlined. In another embodiment, the antibody is chosen from 356A11, 354A08, 087B03, and 368D04. The antibodies of the invention may specifically bind to the same IL-22 epitope or a similar epitope (e.g., an overlapping epitope) that GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11 binds to. In other embodiments, the antibodies specifically bind to a fragment of an IL-22, e.g., a fragment of at least 10, 20, 50, 75, 100, 150, or 200 amino acids contiguous to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, or a sequence that is at least 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical thereto. In other embodiments, the antibody competitively inhibits the binding of at least one of GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11 to its target epitope.

In one embodiment, the antibody of the present invention includes a V_(H) domain, V_(L) domain, or combination thereof, of the F_(v) fragment of GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11. For example, the antibody includes a V_(H) and/or a V_(L) domain having amino acid sequence as set forth in Tables 1 and 7 (SEQ ID NO:5, 23, 41, 59, 77, 95, 113, 131, 149, 167, 185, 203, 221, 239, 257, 275, 293, 311, 329, 347, 365, 383, 401, 419, 437, 455, 473, 491, 509, 527, 545, 563, 581, 599, or 617 for V_(H) and SEQ ID NO:6, 24, 42, 60, 78, 96, 114, 132, 150, 168, 186, 204, 222, 240, 258, 276, 294, 312, 330, 348, 366, 384, 402, 420, 438, 456, 474, 492, 510, 528, 546, 564, 582, 600, or 618 for V_(L)), or a sequence substantially identical thereto (e.g., a sequence at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical thereto, or which differs by no more than 1, 2, 5, 10 or 15 amino acid residues from SEQ ID NO:5, 6, 23, 24, 41, 42, 59, 60, 77, 78, 95, 96, 113, 114, 131, 132, 149, 150, 167, 168, 185, 186, 203, 204, 221, 222, 239, 240, 257, 258, 275, 276, 293, 294, 311, 312, 329, 330, 347, 348, 365, 366, 383, 384, 401, 402, 419, 420, 437, 438, 455, 456, 473, 474, 491, 492, 509, 510, 527, 528, 545, 546, 563, 564, 581, 582, 599, 600, 617, or 618).

In another embodiment, the antibody of the present invention includes a V_(H) domain, V_(L) domain, or combination thereof, of the F_(v) fragment of an antibody chosen from 356A11, 354A08, 087B03, and 368D04. In this embodiment, the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprises:

a V_(H) domain comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:167 or 491 and/or a V_(L) domain comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:168 or 492 (087B03);

a V_(H) domain comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:293 or 545 and/or a V_(L) domain having the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:294 or 546 (354A08);

a V_(H) domain comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:203 or 617 and/or a V_(L) domain comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:204 or 618 (368D04); or

a V_(H) domain comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:347 or 599 and/or a V_(L) domain comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:348 or 600 (356A11).

In another embodiment, the antibody includes a V_(H) and/or V_(L) domain encoded by a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence as set forth in Tables 1 and 7 (SEQ ID NO:14, 32, 50, 68, 86, 104, 122, 140, 158, 176, 194, 212, 230, 248, 266, 284, 302, 320, 338, 356, 374, 392, 410, 428, 446, 464, 482, 500, 518, 536, 554, 572, 590, 608, or 626 for V_(H) and SEQ ID NO:15, 33, 51, 69, 87, 105, 123, 141, 159, 177, 195, 213, 231, 249, 267, 285, 303, 321, 339, 357, 375, 393, 411, 429, 447, 465, 483, 501, 519, 537, 555, 573, 591, 609, or 627 for V_(L)), or a sequence substantially identical thereto (e.g., a sequence at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical thereto, or which differs by no more than 1, 2, 3, 6, 15, 30 or 45 nucleotides from SEQ ID NO: 14, 15, 32, 33, 50, 51, 68, 69, 86, 87, 104, 105, 122, 123, 140, 141, 158, 159, 176, 177, 194, 195, 212, 213, 230, 231, 248, 249, 266, 267, 284, 285, 302, 303, 320, 321, 338, 339, 356, 357, 374, 375, 392, 393, 410, 411, 428, 429, 446, 447, 464, 465, 482, 483, 500, 501, 518, 519, 536, 537, 554, 555, 572, 573, 590, 591, 608, 609, 626, or 627).

In other embodiments, the antibody includes an Fv domain having an amino acid sequence as set forth in Tables 1 and 7 (SEQ ID NO:7, 25, 43, 61, 79, 97, 115, 133, 151, 169, 187, 205, 223, 241, 259, 277, 295, 313, 331, 349, 367, 385, 403, 421, 439, 457, 475, 493, 511, 529, 547, 565, 583, 601, or 619), or a sequence substantially identical thereto (e.g., a sequence at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical thereto, or which differs by no more than 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 or 35 amino acid residues from SEQ ID NO:7, 25, 43, 61, 79, 97, 115, 133, 151, 169, 187, 205, 223, 241, 259, 277, 295, 313, 331, 349, 367, 385, 403, 421, 439, 457, 475, 493, 511, 529, 547, 565, 583, 601, or 619). In another embodiment, the antibody of the present invention includes an Fv domain of an antibody chosen from 356A11 (SEQ ID NO:349 or 601), 354A08 (SEQ ID NO:295 or 547), 087B03 (SEQ ID NO:169 or 493), and 368D04 (SEQ ID NO:205 or 619). In another embodiment, the antibody includes an Fv domain encoded by a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence as set forth in Tables 1 and 7 (SEQ ID NO:16, 34, 52, 70, 88, 106, 124, 142, 160, 178, 196, 214, 232, 250, 268, 286, 304, 322, 340, 358, 376, 394, 412, 430, 448, 466, 484, 502, 520, 538, 556, 574, 592, 610, or 628), or a sequence substantially identical thereto (e.g., a sequence at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical thereto, or which differs by no more than 1, 2, 3, 6, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 or 105 nucleotides from SEQ ID NO: 16, 34, 52, 70, 88, 106, 124, 142, 160, 178, 196, 214, 232, 250, 268, 286, 304, 322, 340, 358, 376, 394, 412, 430, 448, 466, 484, 502, 520, 538, 556, 574, 592, 610, or 628). In yet other embodiments, the antibody comprises at least one complementarity determining region (CDR) of these V_(H) and V_(L) domains. For example, the antibody can include one, two, or three CDR's of the V_(H) domain having an amino acid sequence as set forth in or included within the sequences in Tables 1 and 7 (SEQ ID NO:5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 149, 151, 152, 153, 154, 167, 169, 170, 171, 172, 185, 187, 188, 189, 190, 203, 205, 206, 207, 208, 221, 223, 224, 225, 226, 239, 241, 242, 243, 244, 257, 259, 260, 261, 262, 275, 277, 278, 279, 280, 293, 295, 296, 297, 298, 311, 313, 314, 315, 316, 329, 331, 332, 333, 334, 347, 349, 350, 351, 352, 365, 367, 368, 369, 370, 383, 385, 386, 387, 388, 401, 403, 404, 405, 406, 419, 421, 422, 423, 424, 437, 439, 440, 441, 442, 455, 457, 458, 459, 460, 473, 475, 476, 477, 478, 491, 493, 494, 495, 496, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 527, 529, 530, 531, 532, 545, 547, 548, 549, 550, 563, 565, 566, 567, 568, 581, 583, 584, 585, 586, 599, 601, 602, 603, 604, 617, 619, 620, 621, or 622), or a sequence substantially homologous thereto (e.g., a sequence at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical thereto). In another embodiment, the antibody of the present invention includes one, two, or three CDR's of the V_(H) domain of an antibody chosen from 356A11, 354A08, 087B03, and 368D04. In this embodiment, the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising:

a) SEQ ID NO:170 or 494; b) SEQ ID NO: 171 or 495; and/or c) SEQ ID NO: 172 or 496 (087B03);

a) SEQ ID NO:296 or 548; b) SEQ ID NO:297 or 549; and/or c) SEQ ID NO:298 or 550 (354A08);

a) SEQ ID NO:206 or 620; b) SEQ ID NO:207 or 621; and/or c) SEQ ID NO:208 or 622 (368D04); or

a) SEQ ID NO:350 or 602; b) SEQ ID NO:351 or 603; and/or c) SEQ ID NO:352 or 604 (356A11).

In another embodiment, the antibody can include one, two, or three CDR's of the V_(L) domain having an amino acid sequence as set forth in or included within the sequences in Tables 1 and 7 (SEQ ID NO:6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 42, 43, 47, 48, 49, 60, 61, 65, 66, 67, 78, 79, 83, 84, 85, 96, 97, 101, 102, 103, 114, 115, 119, 120, 121, 132, 133, 137, 138, 139, 150, 151, 155, 156, 157, 168, 169, 173, 174, 175, 186, 187, 191, 192, 193, 204, 205, 209, 210, 211, 222, 223, 227, 228, 229, 240, 241, 245, 246, 247, 258, 259, 263, 264, 265, 276, 277, 281, 282, 283, 294, 295, 299, 300, 301, 312, 313, 317, 318, 319, 330, 331, 335, 336, 337, 348, 349, 353, 354, 355, 366, 367, 371, 372, 373, 384, 385, 389, 390, 391, 402, 403, 407, 408, 409, 420, 421, 425, 426, 427, 438, 439, 443, 444, 445, 456, 457, 461, 462, 463, 474, 475, 479, 480, 481, 492, 493, 497, 498, 499, 510, 511, 515, 516, 517, 528, 529, 533, 534, 535, 546, 547, 551, 552, 553, 564, 565, 569, 570, 571, 582, 583, 587, 588, 589, 600, 601, 605, 606, 607, 618, 619, 623, 624, or 625), or a sequence substantially identical thereto (e.g., a sequence at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical thereto). In another embodiment, the antibody of the present invention includes one, two, or three CDR's of the V_(L) domain of an antibody chosen from 356A11, 354A08, 087B03, and 368D04. In this embodiment, the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprises a light chain variable region comprising:

a) SEQ ID NO:173 or 497; b) SEQ ID NO: 174 or 498; and/or c) SEQ ID NO:175 or 499 (087B03);

a) SEQ ID NO:299 or 551; b) SEQ ID NO:300 or 552; and/or c) SEQ ID NO:301 or 553 (354A08);

a) SEQ ID NO:209 or 623; b) SEQ ID NO:210 or 624; and/or c) SEQ ID NO:211 or 625 (368D04); or

a) SEQ ID NO:353 or 605; b) SEQ ID NO:354 or 606; and/or c) SEQ ID NO:355 or 607 (356A11).

In a still further embodiment, the antibody comprises an H3 fragment of the V_(H) domain of GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11, e.g., an H3 fragment having the amino acid sequence as set forth in Tables 1 and 7 (SEQ ID NO:10, 28, 46, 64, 82, 100, 118, 136, 154, 172, 190, 208, 226, 244, 262, 280, 298, 316, 334, 352, 370, 388, 406, 424, 442, 460, 478, 496, 514, 532, 550, 568, 586, 604, or 622), or a sequence substantially identical thereto (e.g., a sequence at least about 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical thereto).

The antibody of the invention can be full-length (e.g., include at least one complete heavy chain and at least one complete light chain) or can include only an antigen-binding fragment (e.g., a Fab, F(ab′)₂, Fv, a single chain Fv fragment, a Fd fragment, or a dAb fragment). The antibody can include a constant region, or a portion thereof, chosen from any of: the kappa, lambda, alpha, gamma, delta, epsilon and mu constant region genes. For example, heavy chain constant regions of the various isotypes can be used, including: IgG₁, IgG₂, IgG₃, IgG₄, IgM, IgA₁, IgA₂, IgD, and IgE. The light chain constant region can be chosen from kappa or lambda. The antibody may be an IgG, or it may also be IgG_(1κ) or IgG_(1γ).

The anti-IL-22 antibody described herein can be derivatized or linked to another functional molecule (such as another peptide or protein (e.g., a Fab fragment)). For example, an antibody of the invention can be functionally linked (e.g., by chemical coupling, genetic fusion, non-covalent association or otherwise) to at least one other molecular entity, such as another antibody (e.g., a bispecific or a multispecific antibody), toxin, radioisotope, cytotoxic or cytostatic agent, among others.

In another aspect, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition containing at least one anti-IL-22 antibody and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical composition can further include a combination of at least one anti-IL-22 antibody and at least one therapeutic agent (e.g., cytokine and growth factor inhibitors, immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatory agents, metabolic inhibitors, enzyme inhibitors, cytotoxic agents, cytostatic agents, or combinations thereof, as described in more detail herein). Combinations of the anti-IL-22 antibody and a therapeutic agent are also within the scope of the invention. The compositions and combinations of the invention can be used to regulate IL-22-associated inflammatory conditions, e.g., by modulating IL-22 signaling through its receptors located on epithelial cells of a variety of tissues, including, but not limited to, those of the pancreas, skin, lung, gut, liver, kidney, salivary gland, and vascular endothelia, in addition to potentially activated and tissue localized immune cells.

In another aspect, the invention features a method of treating a subject with an IL-22-associated disorder. The method includes administering to the subject an anti-IL-22 antibody in an amount sufficient to inhibit at least one IL-22 activity of immune cells, thereby treating the IL-22-associated disorder.

The anti-IL-22 antibody can be administered to the subject, alone or in combination, with other therapeutic agents as described herein. The subject may be a mammal, e.g. human. For example, the method can be used to treat a subject with an IL-22-associated disorder such as autoimmune disorders, e.g., arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus-associated arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis), scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosis, HIV, Sjogren's syndrome, vasculitis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroiditis, dermatitis (including atopic dermatitis and eczematous dermatitis), myasthenia gravis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, colitis, diabetes mellitus (type I); inflammatory conditions of, e.g., the skin (e.g., psoriasis), cardiovascular system (e.g., atherosclerosis), nervous system (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), liver (e.g., hepatitis), kidney (e.g., nephritis) and pancreas (e.g., pancreatitis); cardiovascular disorders, e.g., cholesterol metabolic disorders, oxygen free radical injury, ischemia; disorders associated with wound healing; respiratory disorders, e.g., asthma and COPD (e.g., cystic fibrosis); acute inflammatory conditions (e.g., endotoxemia, sepsis and septicaemia, toxic shock syndrome and infectious disease); transplant rejection and allergy. In one embodiment, the IL-22-associated disorder is, an arthritic disorder, e.g., a disorder chosen from one or more of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis; a respiratory disorder (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); or an inflammatory condition of, e.g., the skin (e.g., psoriasis), cardiovascular system (e.g., atherosclerosis), nervous system (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), liver (e.g., hepatitis), kidney (e.g., nephritis), pancreas (e.g., pancreatitis), and gastrointestinal organs, e.g., colitis, Crohn's disease and IBD.

In another aspect, the invention features a method of decreasing, inhibiting or reducing an acute phase response in a subject. The method includes administering to the subject an IL-22 binding agent, e.g., an IL-22 antagonist, (e.g., an anti-IL-22 antibody or fragment thereof as described herein), in an amount sufficient to decrease, inhibit or reduce the acute phase response in the subject. In one embodiment, the subject is a mammal, e.g., a human suffering from an IL-22-associated disorder, including, e.g., respiratory disorders, inflammatory disorders and autoimmune disorders. In one embodiment, the IL-22 binding agent is administered locally, e.g., topically, subcutaneously, or other administrations that are not in the general circulation.

In another aspect, an IL-22 binding agent can be used to alter the type of immune response and/or increase the efficacy of a vaccine formulation used to immunize a subject. For example, an anti-IL-22 antibody of the present invention can be administered before, during and/or after an immunization to increase vaccine efficacy. In one embodiment, the vaccine formulation contains one or more IL-22 antagonists and an antigen, i.e., an immunogen, including, for example, viral, bacterial, or tumor antigens. In another embodiment, the IL-22 antagonist and the immunogen are administered separately, e.g., within one hour, three hours, one day or two days of each other.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting the presence of IL-22 in a sample in vitro. Samples may include biological samples such as serum, plasma, tissue and biopsy. The subject method can be used to diagnose a disorder, such as an IL-22-associated disorder as described herein. The method includes: (1) contacting the sample or a control sample with an anti-IL-22 antibody, and (2) detecting formation of a complex between the anti-IL-22 antibody and the sample or the control sample, wherein a statistically significant change in the formation of the complex in the sample relative to a control sample, is indicative of the presence of the IL-22 in the sample.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting the presence of IL-22 in vivo (e.g., in vivo imaging in a subject). The method can be used to diagnose a disorder, e.g., an IL-22-associated disorder as described herein. The method includes: (1) administering an anti-IL-22 antibody to a subject or a control subject under conditions that allow binding of the antibody to IL-22, and (2) detecting formation of a complex between the antibody and IL-22, wherein a statistically significant change in the formation of the complex in the subject relative to a control, e.g., a control subject, is indicative of the presence of IL-22.

The antibody may be directly or indirectly labeled with a detectable substance to facilitate detection of the bound or unbound antibody. Suitable detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials, luminescent materials and radioactive materials.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for delivering or targeting an agent, e.g., a therapeutic or a cytotoxic agent, to an IL-22-expressing cell in vivo. The method includes administering an anti-IL-22 antibody to a subject under conditions that allow binding of the antibody to IL-22. The antibody may be coupled to a second therapeutic moiety, such as a toxin.

The disclosure provides nucleic acid sequences from the V_(H) and V_(L) domains of GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, and 356A11. Also provided are nucleic acid sequences that comprise at least one CDR from GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, and 356A11. The disclosure also provides vectors and host cells comprising such nucleic acids.

The disclosure further provides methods of producing new V_(H) and V_(L) domains and functional antibodies comprising all or a portion of such domains derived from the V_(H) or V_(L) domains of GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The invention is set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims, and the disclosure should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. The following detailed description includes exemplary representations of various embodiments of the invention, which are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying figures constitute a part of this specification and, together with the description, serve only to illustrate embodiments and not limit the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Potency of parent anti-IL-22 scFv clones in the IL-22 receptor complex assay: bio.IL-22 binding IL-22 receptor complex DELFIA competition assay.

FIG. 2. Profiling of lead scFv clones in IL-22 receptor complex assay: bio.IL-22 binding IL-22 receptor complex DELFIA competition assay. (A) GIL 1 derived. (B) GIL 16 derived. (C) GIL 16, GIL 60, and GIL 68 derived. (D) GIL 60 derived. (E) GIL 68 derived. (F) GIL 68 derived. (G) GIL 92 derived.

FIG. 3. IgG potency in GROa cell based assays. Optimized GIL-IgGs in hulL-22 GROa assay. (A) Germlined IgG. (B) Non-germlined IgG.

FIG. 4. Cross species reactivity of IL-22 antibodies by ELISA. Optimized GIL-IgGs specifically bind to IL-22. (A) Germlined IgG. (B) Non-germlined IgG.

FIG. 5. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences of human IL-22. The nucleotide sequence of human IL-22 is SEQ ID NO:2 and includes a poly (A) tail. The disclosed nucleotide sequence includes an open reading frame and the amino acid sequence of full-length IL-22 protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:1. The amino acid sequence of mature IL-22 corresponds to about amino acids 34-179 of SEQ ID NO:1.

FIG. 6. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences of mouse IL-22.

FIG. 7. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences of non-germlined GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, and 356A11, including V_(H) and V_(L) domains, and CDRs (H1, H2, H3, L1, L2, and L3).

FIG. 8. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences of germlined GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 062A09, 087B03, 166B06, 166G05, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, 356A11, and 368D04, including V_(H) and V_(L) domains, and CDRs (H1, H2, H3, L1, L2, and L3).

FIG. 9. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences of scFv's for non-germlined GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, and 356A11, with CDRs underlined (H1, H2, H3, L1, L2, and L3).

FIG. 10. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences of scFv's for germlined GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 062A09, 087B03, 166B06, 166G05, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, 356A11, and 368D04 with CDRs underlined (H1, H2, H3, L1, L2, and L3).

FIGS. 11A-B. In vivo half life of (A) 356A11 and (B) 368D04.

FIGS. 12A-B. Mean disease severity scores (A) or disease severity scores (B) with various doses of 356A11 administered every other day in murine CIA model.

FIGS. 13A-D. Mean disease severity scores of 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 administered every other day in murine CIA model in multiple studies.

FIGS. 14A-B. Mean disease severity scores of 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 administered once or twice a week in murine CIA model.

FIGS. 15A-B. Disease severity scores from two separate studies of 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 administered every other day, twice a week, or once a week in murine CIA model.

FIGS. 16A-F. Histological evaluation (paw) of disease progression in multiple studies using mice treated with (A) 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 every other day or (B) 16 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 every other day, (C) 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 every other day, once a week, or twice a week, (D) 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 once a week, (E) 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 twice a week, or (F) 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 every other day in murine CIA model.

FIG. 17. Detection and stabilization of in vivo IL-22 (ng/mL) in arthritic mice treated with 356A11.

FIG. 18. Detection of in vivo IL-22 (ng/mL) in arthritic mice administered an isotype control antibody.

FIG. 19. Upregulation of IL-22 and IL-22R protein in human psoriatic lesions.

FIG. 20. Disease evaluation of in mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11, 368D04, or control antibody in murine model of psoriasis. (A) Clinical disease progression over 10 weeks. (B) Clinical score at 10 weeks.

FIG. 21. Detection of in vivo serum levels of IL-22 (pg/mL) in psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11, 368D04, or a control antibody.

FIG. 22. Detection of in vivo serum levels of (A) IL-17A, (B) IL-17F, (C) IL-17A/F; and (D) IL-6 in psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11, 368D04, or a control antibody.

FIG. 23. Flow cytometric analysis of pooled CD4+ lymph node cells treated with PMA and ionomycin following isolation from psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11, 368D04, or a control antibody and stained for IL-22 and IL-17A; IL-22 and IL-17F; IL-17A and IL-17F; IL-22 and TNFα; IL-22 and IFNγ; or TNFα and IFNγ.

FIG. 24. Cytokine gene expression in the ears of psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11, 368D04, or a control antibody. (A) IL-22. (B) IL-17. (C) IFNγ. (D) IL-17F. (E) IL-6.

FIG. 25. Cytokine detection in the supernatants of pooled lymph node cells isolated from psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11, 368D04, or a control antibody and stimulated ex vivo with and without platebound, anti-CD3 antibody. (A) IL-22. (B) IL-6. (C) IFNγ (D) IL-17F. (E) IL-17A/F. (F) IL-17A.

FIG. 26. Cytokine gene expression in pooled lymph node cells isolated from psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11, 368D04, or a control antibody and stimulated ex vivo with platebound, anti-CD3 antibody. (A) IL-22. (B) IL-6. (C) IFNγ (D) IL-17F. (E) IL-17A.

FIG. 27. Disease evaluation of in mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or control antibody in murine model of psoriasis. Mice treated with IL-12 and LPS at day 1 following adoptive transfer of T cells. (A) Clinical disease progression over 10 weeks. (B) Clinical score at 10 weeks.

FIG. 28. Detection of in vivo serum levels of IL-22 (ng/mL) in psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody. Mice treated with IL-12 and LPS at day 1 following adoptive transfer of T cells.

FIG. 29. Detection of in vivo serum levels of (A) IL-17A, (B) IL-17F, (C) IL-17A/F; and (D) IL-6 in psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody. Mice treated with IL-12 and LPS at day 1 following adoptive transfer of T cells.

FIG. 30. Cytokine gene expression in the ears of psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody. (A) IL-17. (B) IL-22. (C) IL-17F. (D) IFNγ. (E) IL-6. Mice treated with IL-12 and LPS at day 1 following adoptive transfer of T cells.

FIG. 31. Flow cytometric analysis of pooled CD4+ lymph node cells treated with PMA and ionomycin following isolation from psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody and stained for IL-22 and IL-17A; IL-22 and IL-17F; IL-17A and IL-17F; IL-22 and TNFα; IL-22 and IFNγ; or TNFα and IFNγ. Mice treated with IL-12 and LPS at day 1 following adoptive transfer of T cells.

FIG. 32. Cytokine detection in the supernatants of pooled lymph node cells isolated from psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody and stimulated ex vivo with or without platebound, anti-CD3 antibody. (A) IL-22. (B) IL-6. (C) IFNγ (D) IL-17A. (E) IL-17F. Mice treated with IL-12 and LPS at day 1 following adoptive transfer of T cells.

FIG. 33. Cytokine gene expression in pooled lymph node cells isolated from psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody and stimulated ex vivo with platebound, anti-CD3 antibody. (A) IL-22. (B) IL-6. (C) IFNγ (D) IL-17A. (E) IL-17F. Mice treated with IL-12 and LPS at day 1 following adoptive transfer of T cells.

FIG. 34. Disease evaluation of in mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or control antibody in murine model of psoriasis. (A) Clinical disease progression over 10 weeks. (B) Clinical score at 10 weeks.

FIG. 35. Detection of in vivo serum levels of IL-22 (ng/mL) in psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody.

FIG. 36. Cytokine gene expression in the ears of psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody. (A) IL-22, (B) IL-17, (C) IL-17F, (D) IL-1F6 (IL-1 family member 6), (E) IL-6, (F) IFNγ, (G) IL-22 BP (IL-22 binding protein), or (H) IL-22R1 (IL-22 receptor subunit).

FIG. 37. Disease evaluation of in mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or control antibody in murine model of psoriasis. (A) Clinical disease progression over 10 weeks. (B) Clinical score at 10 weeks. Mice treated with IL-12 and LPS at day 1 following adoptive transfer of T cells.

FIG. 38. Detection of in vivo serum levels of IL-22 (ng/mL) in psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody. Mice treated with IL-12 and LPS at day 1 following adoptive transfer of T cells.

FIG. 39. Detection of in vivo serum levels of (A) IL-17A and (B) IL-6 in psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody (without coadministration of IL-12 and LPS) and (C) IL-17A and (D) IL-6 in psoriatic mice treated with 16 mg/kg of 356A11 or a control antibody (IL-12 and LPS coadministered at day 1 following adoptive transfer of T cells).

FIG. 40. (A) Mean disease severity score or (B) disease severity score at day 30 of 16 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 administered every other day in murine CIA model.

FIG. 41. Mean disease severity score of 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 administered every other day, once a week, or twice a week in murine CIA model.

FIG. 42. Histological evaluation (paw) of disease progression in mice treated with (A) 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 once a week, (B) 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 twice a week, or (C) 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 every other day.

FIG. 43. Histological evaluation (mean paw severity score) of disease progression in mice treated with 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 once a week, twice a week, or every other day.

FIGS. 44A-B. Mean disease severity scores from two separate studies of 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 administered once a week in murine CIA model.

FIGS. 45A-B. Histological evaluation (paw) of disease progression from two separate studies in mice treated with 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 once a week in murine CIA model.

FIGS. 46A-C. Mean disease severity scores from three separate studies of 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 368D04 administered once a week in murine CIA model.

FIGS. 47A-C. Histological evaluation (paw) of disease progression from three separate studies in mice treated with 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 368D04 once a week in murine CIA model.

FIG. 48. Serum levels of (A) IL-6 (pg/ml) and (B) CXCL1 (ng/ml) from mice treated with 356A11 (8 mpk once a week) in murine CIA model.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Definitions

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, certain terms are first defined. Additional definitions are set forth throughout the detailed description.

The term “antibody” refers to an immunoglobulin or fragment thereof, and encompasses any polypeptide comprising an antigen-binding fragment or an antigen-binding domain. The term includes but is not limited to polyclonal, monoclonal, monospecific, polyspecific, non-specific, humanized, human, single-chain, chimeric, synthetic, recombinant, hybrid, mutated, grafted, and in vitro generated antibodies. Unless preceded by the word “intact”, the term “antibody” includes antibody fragments such as Fab, F(ab′)₂, Fv, scFv, Fd, dAb, and other antibody fragments that retain antigen-binding function. Typically, such fragments would comprise an antigen-binding domain.

The terms “antigen-binding domain” and “antigen-binding fragment” refer to a part of an antibody molecule that comprises-amino acids responsible for the specific binding between antibody and antigen. The part of the antigen that is specifically recognized and bound by the antibody is referred to as the “epitope.” An antigen-binding domain may comprise an antibody light chain variable region (V_(L)) and an antibody heavy chain variable region (V_(H)); however, it does not have to comprise both. Fd fragments, for example, have two V_(H) regions and often retain some antigen-binding function of the intact antigen-binding domain. Examples of antigen-binding fragments of an antibody include (1) a Fab fragment, a monovalent fragment having the V_(L), V_(H), C_(L) and C_(H)1 domains; (2) a F(ab′)₂ fragment, a bivalent fragment having two Fab fragments linked by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region; (3) a Fd fragment having the two V_(H) and C_(H)1 domains; (4) a Fv fragment having the V_(L) and V_(H) domains of a single arm of an antibody, (5) a dAb fragment (Ward et al., (1989) Nature 341:544-546), which has a V_(H) domain; (6) an isolated complementarity determining region (CDR); and (7) a single chain Fv (scFv). Although the two domains of the Fv fragment, V_(L) and V_(H), are coded for by separate genes, they can be joined, using recombinant methods, by a synthetic linker that enables them to be made as a single protein chain in which the V_(L) and V_(H) regions pair to form monovalent molecules (known as single chain Fv (scFv); see e.g., Bird et al. (1988) Science 242:423-426; and Huston et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883). These antibody fragments are obtained using conventional techniques known to those with skill in the art, and the fragments are evaluated for function in the same manner as are intact antibodies.

The term “effective amount” refers to a dosage or amount that is sufficient to regulate IL-22 activity to ameliorate clinical symptoms or achieve a desired biological outcome, e.g., decreased T cell and/or B cell activity, suppression of autoimmunity, suppression of transplant rejection, etc.

The term “human antibody” includes antibodies having variable and constant regions corresponding substantially to human germline immunoglobulin sequences known in the art, including, for example, those described by Kabat et al. (See Kabat, et al. (1991) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 91-3242). The human antibodies of the invention may include amino acid residues not encoded by human germline immunoglobulin sequences (e.g., mutations introduced by random or site-specific mutagenesis in vitro or by somatic mutation in vivo), for example in the CDRs, and in particular, CDR3. The human antibody can have at least one, two, three, four, five, or more positions replaced with an amino acid residue that is not encoded by the human germline immunoglobulin sequence.

The phrase “inhibit” or “antagonize” IL-22 activity and its cognates refer to a reduction, inhibition, or otherwise diminution of at least one activity of IL-22 due to binding an anti-IL-22 antibody, wherein the reduction is relative to the activity of IL-22 in the absence of the same antibody. The activity can be measured using any technique known in the art, including, for example, as described in Examples 7 and 9. Inhibition or antagonism does not necessarily indicate a total elimination of the IL-22 polypeptide biological activity. A reduction in activity may be about 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or more.

The term “interleukin-22” or “IL-22” refers to a class II cytokine (which may be mammalian) capable of binding to IL-22R and/or a receptor complex of IL-22R and IL-10R2, and has at least one of the following features: (1) an amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring mammalian IL-22 polypeptide (full length or mature form) or a fragment thereof, e.g., an amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID NO:1 (human) or SEQ ID NO:3 (murine) or a fragment thereof; (2) an amino acid sequence substantially identical to, e.g., at least 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% identical to, an amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID NO:1 or amino acids 34-179 thereof (human) or SEQ ID NO:3 (murine) or a fragment thereof; (3) an amino acid sequence which is encoded by a naturally occurring mammalian IL-22 nucleotide sequence or a fragment thereof (e.g., SEQ ID NO:2 or nucleotides 71 to 610 (human) or SEQ ID NO:4 (murine) or a fragment thereof); (4) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequence which is substantially identical to, e.g., at least 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% identical to, a nucleotide sequence shown as SEQ ID NO:2 or nucleotides 71 to 610 thereof (human) or SEQ ID NO:4 (murine) or a fragment thereof; (5) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequence degenerate to a naturally occurring IL-22 nucleotide sequence or a fragment thereof, e.g., SEQ ID NO:2 (human) or SEQ ID NO:4 (murine) or a fragment thereof; or (6) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes to one of the foregoing nucleotide sequences under stringent conditions, e.g., highly stringent conditions. The IL-22 may bind to IL-22R and/or a receptor complex of IL-22R and IL-10R2 of mammalian origin, e.g., human or mouse.

The nucleotide sequence and the predicted amino acid sequence of human IL-22 are shown in SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:1, respectively. The amino acid sequence of mature human IL-22 corresponds to amino acids 34-179 of SEQ ID NO:1. Analysis of recombinant human IL-22 reveals many structural domains. (Nagem et al. (2002) Structure, 10:1051-62; U.S. Patent Application No. US 2002/0187512 A1).

The term “IL-22 activity” refers to at least one cellular process initiated or interrupted as a result of IL-22 binding to a receptor complex consisting of IL-22R and IL-10R2 on the cell. IL-22 activities include at least one of, but are not limited to: (1) binding IL-22R or a receptor complex of IL-22R and IL-10R2 (e.g., human IL-22R with or without human IL-10R2); (2) associating with signal transduction molecules (e.g., JAK-1); (3) stimulating phosphorylation of STAT proteins (e.g., STAT5, STAT3, or combination thereof); (4) activating STAT proteins; and (5) modulating (e.g., increasing or decreasing) proliferation, differentiation, effector cell function, cytolytic activity, cytokine secretion, survival, or combinations thereof, of epithelial cells, fibroblasts, or immune cells. Epithelial cells include, but are not limited to, cells of the skin, gut, liver, and kidney, as well as endothelial cells. Fibroblasts include, but are not limited to, synovial fibroblasts. Immune cells may include CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, NK cells, B cells, macrophages, and megakaryocytes. IL-22 activity can be determined in vitro, for example, using the IL-22 receptor inhibition assay as described in Examples 2 and 6, the GROa secretion assay in Example 9, or the BAF3 proliferation assay of Example 7. IL-22 activity can also be determined in vivo, for example, by scoring progression of an immune response or disorder as described in Example 13.

As used herein, “in vitro generated antibody” refers to an antibody where all or part of the variable region (e.g., at least one CDR) is generated in a non-immune cell selection (e.g., an in vitro phage display, protein chip or any other method in which candidate sequences can be tested for their ability to bind to an antigen). This term excludes sequences generated by genomic rearrangement in an immune cell.

The term “isolated” refers to a molecule that is substantially free of its natural environment. For instance, an isolated protein is substantially free of cellular material or other proteins from the cell or tissue source from which it was derived. The term also refers to preparations where the isolated protein is sufficiently pure for pharmaceutical compositions; or at least 70-80% (w/w) pure; or at least 80-90% (w/w) pure; or at least 90-95% pure; or at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% (w/w) pure.

The phrase “percent identical” or “percent identity” refers to the similarity between at least two different sequences. This percent identity can be determined by standard alignment algorithms, for example, the Basic Local Alignment Tool (BLAST) described by Altshul et al. ((1990) J. Mol. Biol., 215: 403-410); the algorithm of Needleman et al. ((1970) J. Mol. Biol., 48: 444-453); or the algorithm of Meyers et al. ((1988) Comput. Appl. Biosci., 4: 11-17). A set of parameters may be the Blosum 62 scoring matrix with a gap penalty of 12, a gap extend penalty of 4, and a frameshift gap penalty of 5. The percent identity between two amino acid or nucleotide sequences can also be determined using the algorithm of E. Meyers and W. Miller ((1989) CABIOS, 4: 11-17) which has been incorporated into the ALIGN program (version 2.0), using a PAM120 weight residue table, a gap length penalty of 12 and a gap penalty of 4. The percent identity is usually calculated by comparing sequences of similar length.

The term “repertoire” refers to at least one nucleotide sequence derived wholly or partially from at least one sequence encoding at least one immunoglobulin. The sequence(s) may be generated by rearrangement in vivo of the V, D, and J segments of heavy chains, and the V and J segments of light chains. Alternatively, the sequence(s) can be generated from a cell in response to which rearrangement occurs, e.g., in vitro stimulation. Alternatively, part or all of the sequence(s) may be obtained by DNA splicing, nucleotide synthesis, mutagenesis, and other methods, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,332. A repertoire may include only one sequence or may include a plurality of sequences, including ones in a genetically diverse collection.

The terms “specific binding” or “specifically binds” refers to two molecules forming a complex that is relatively stable under physiologic conditions. Specific binding is characterized by a high affinity and a low to moderate capacity as distinguished from nonspecific binding which usually has a low affinity with a moderate to high capacity. Typically, binding is considered specific when the association constant K_(A) is higher than 10⁶M⁻¹. If necessary, nonspecific binding can be reduced without substantially affecting specific binding by varying the binding conditions. The appropriate binding conditions, such as concentration of antibodies, ionic strength of the solution, temperature, time allowed for binding, concentration of a blocking agent (e.g., serum albumin, milk casein), etc., may be optimized by a skilled artisan using routine techniques. Illustrative conditions are set forth in Example 3, but other conditions known to the person of ordinary skill in the art fall within the scope of this invention.

As used herein, the term “stringent” describes conditions for hybridization and washing. Stringent conditions are known to those skilled in the art and can be found in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6. Aqueous and nonaqueous methods are described in that reference and either can be used. One example of stringent hybridization conditions is hybridization in 6× sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45° C., followed by at least one wash in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50° C. A second example of stringent hybridization conditions is hybridization in 6×SSC at about 45° C., followed by at least one wash in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 55° C. Another example of stringent hybridization conditions is hybridization in 6×SSC at about 45° C., followed by at least one wash in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 60° C. A further example of stringent hybridization conditions is hybridization in 6×SSC at about 45° C., followed by at least one wash in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65° C. High stringent conditions include hybridization in 0.5M sodium phosphate, 7% SDS at 65° C., followed by at least one wash at 0.2×SSC, 1% SDS at 65° C.

The phrase “substantially as set out,” “substantially identical” or “substantially homologous” means that the relevant amino acid or nucleotide sequence (e.g., CDR(s), V_(H), or V_(L) domain) will be identical to or have insubstantial differences (through conserved amino acid substitutions) in comparison to the sequences which are set out. Insubstantial differences include minor amino acid changes, such as 1 or 2 substitutions in a 5 amino acid sequence of a specified region. In the case of antibodies, the second antibody has the same specificity and has at least 50% of the affinity of the first antibody.

Sequences substantially identical or homologous (e.g., at least about 85% sequence identity) to the sequences disclosed herein are also part of this application. In some embodiment, the sequence identity can be about 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or higher. Alternatively, substantial identity or homology exists when the nucleic acid segments will hybridize under selective hybridization conditions (e.g., highly stringent hybridization conditions), to the complement of the strand. The nucleic acids may be present in whole cells, in a cell lysate, or in a partially purified or substantially pure form.

The term “therapeutic agent” is a substance that treats or assists in treating a medical disorder. Therapeutic agents may include, but are not limited to, substances that modulate immune cells or immune responses in a manner that complements the IL-22 activity of anti-IL-22 antibodies. Non-limiting examples and uses of therapeutic agents are described herein.

As used herein, a “therapeutically effective amount” of an anti-IL-22 antibody refers to an amount of an antibody which is effective, upon single or multiple dose administration to a subject (such as a human patient) at treating, preventing, curing, delaying, reducing the severity of, and/or ameliorating at least one symptom of a disorder or recurring disorder, or prolonging the survival of the subject beyond that expected in the absence of such treatment.

The term “treatment” refers to a therapeutic or preventative measure. The treatment may be administered to a subject having a medical disorder or who ultimately may acquire the disorder, in order to prevent, cure, delay, reduce the severity of, and/or ameliorate one or more symptoms of a disorder or recurring disorder, or in order to prolong the survival of a subject beyond that expected in the absence of such treatment.

II. Anti-IL-22 Antibodies

The disclosure provides novel anti-IL-22 antibodies that comprise novel antigen-binding fragments.

Numerous methods known to those skilled in the art are available for obtaining antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof. For example, antibodies can be produced using recombinant DNA methods (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567). Monoclonal antibodies may also be produced by generation of hybridomas (see e.g., Kohler and Milstein (1975) Nature, 256: 495-499) in accordance with known methods. Hybridomas formed in this manner are then screened using standard methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and surface plasmon resonance (BIACORE™) analysis, to identify one or more hybridomas that produce an antibody that specifically binds with a specified antigen. Any form of the specified antigen may be used as the immunogen, e.g., recombinant antigen, naturally occurring forms, any variants or fragments thereof, as well as antigenic peptide thereof.

One exemplary method of making antibodies includes screening protein expression libraries, e.g., phage or ribosome display libraries. Phage display is described, for example, in Ladner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; Smith (1985) Science 228:1315-1317; Clackson et al. (1991) Nature, 352: 624-628; Marks et al. (1991) J. Mol. Biol., 222: 581-597 WO 92/18619; WO 91/17271; WO 92/20791; WO 92/15679; WO 93/01288; WO 92/01047; WO 92/09690; and WO 90/02809.

In addition to the use of display libraries, the specified antigen can be used to immunize a non-human animal, e.g., a rodent, e.g., a mouse, hamster, or rat. In one embodiment, the non-human animal includes at least a part of a human immunoglobulin gene. For example, it is possible to engineer mouse strains deficient in mouse antibody production with large fragments of the human Ig loci. Using the hybridoma technology, antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies derived from the genes with the desired specificity may be produced and selected. See, e.g., XENOMOUSE™, Green et al. (1994) Nature Genetics 7:13-21, US 2003-0070185, WO 96/34096, published Oct. 31, 1996, and PCT Application No. PCT/US96/05928, filed Apr. 29, 1996.

In another embodiment, a monoclonal antibody is obtained from the non-human animal, and then modified, e.g., humanized, deimmunized, chimeric, may be produced using recombinant DNA techniques known in the art. A variety of approaches for making chimeric antibodies have been described. See e.g., Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81:6851, 1985; Takeda et al., Nature 314:452, 1985, Cabilly et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Boss et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,397; Tanaguchi et al., European Patent Publication EP171496; European Patent Publication 0173494, United Kingdom Patent GB 2177096B. Humanized antibodies may also be produced, for example, using transgenic mice that express human heavy and light chain genes, but are incapable of expressing the endogenous mouse immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes. Winter describes an exemplary CDR-grafting method that may be used to prepare the humanized antibodies described herein (U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,539). All of the CDRs of a particular human antibody may be replaced with at least a portion of a non-human CDR, or only some of the CDRs may be replaced with non-human CDRs. It is only necessary to replace the number of CDRs required for binding of the humanized antibody to a predetermined antigen.

Humanized antibodies or fragments thereof can be generated by replacing sequences of the Fv variable domain that are not directly involved in antigen binding with equivalent sequences from human Fv variable domains. Exemplary methods for generating humanized antibodies or fragments thereof are provided by Morrison (1985) Science 229:1202-1207; by Oi et al. (1986) BioTechniques 4:214; and by U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,089; U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,761; U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,762; U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,205; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,407,213. Those methods include isolating, manipulating, and expressing the nucleic acid sequences that encode all or part of immunoglobulin Fv variable domains from at least one of a heavy or light chain. Such nucleic acids may be obtained from a hybridoma producing an antibody against a predetermined target, as described above, as well as from other sources. The recombinant DNA encoding the humanized antibody molecule can then be cloned into an appropriate expression vector.

In certain embodiments, a humanized antibody is optimized by the introduction of conservative substitutions, consensus sequence substitutions, germline substitutions and/or backmutations. Such altered immunoglobulin molecules can be made by any of several techniques known in the art, (e.g., Teng et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80: 7308-7312, 1983; Kozbor et al., Immunology Today, 4: 7279, 1983; Olsson et al., Meth. Enzymol., 92: 3-16, 1982), and may be made according to the teachings of PCT Publication WO92/06193 or EP 0239400).

An antibody or fragment thereof may also be modified by specific deletion of human T cell epitopes or “deimmunization” by the methods disclosed in WO 98/52976 and WO 00/34317. Briefly, the heavy and light chain variable domains of an antibody can be analyzed for peptides that bind to MHC Class II; these peptides represent potential T-cell epitopes (as defined in WO 98/52976 and WO 00/34317). For detection of potential T-cell epitopes, a computer modeling approach termed “peptide threading” can be applied, and in addition a database of human MHC class II binding peptides can be searched for motifs present in the V_(H) and V_(L) sequences, as described in WO 98/52976 and WO 00/34317. These motifs bind to any of the 18 major MHC class II DR allotypes, and thus constitute potential T cell epitopes. Potential T-cell epitopes detected can be eliminated by substituting small numbers of amino acid residues in the variable domains, or preferably, by single amino acid substitutions. Typically, conservative substitutions are made. Often, but not exclusively, an amino acid common to a position in human germline antibody sequences may be used. Human germline sequences, e.g., are disclosed in Tomlinson, et al. (1992) J. Mol. Biol. 227:776-798; Cook, G. P. et al. (1995) Immunol. Today Vol. 16 (5): 237-242; Chothia, D. et al. (1992) J. Mol. Biol. 227:799-817; and Tomlinson et al. (1995) EMBO J. 14:4628-4638. The V BASE directory provides a comprehensive directory of human immunoglobulin variable region sequences (compiled by Tomlinson, I. A. et al. MRC Centre for Protein Engineering, Cambridge, UK). These sequences can be used as a source of human sequence, e.g., for framework regions and CDRs. Consensus human framework regions can also be used, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,064.

In certain embodiments, an antibody can contain an altered immunoglobulin constant or Fc region. For example, an antibody produced in accordance with the teachings herein may bind more strongly or with more specificity to effector molecules such as complement and/or Fc receptors, which can control several immune functions of the antibody such as effector cell activity, lysis, complement-mediated activity, antibody clearance, and antibody half-life. Typical Fc receptors that bind to an Fc region of an antibody (e.g., an IgG antibody) include, but are not limited to, receptors of the FcγRI, FcγRII, and FcγRIII and FcRn subclasses, including allelic variants and alternatively spliced forms of these receptors. Fc receptors are reviewed in Ravetch and Kinet, Annu. Rev. Immunol 9:457-92, 1991; Capel et al., Immunomethods 4:25-34, 1994; and de Haas et al., J. Lab. Clin. Med. 126:330-41, 1995).

For additional antibody production techniques, see Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, eds. Harlow et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1988. The present invention is not necessarily limited to any particular source, method of production, or other special characteristics of an antibody.

Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are typically tetrameric glycosylated proteins composed of two light (L) chains of approximately 25 kDa each and two heavy (H) chains of approximately 50 kDa each. Two types of light chain, termed lambda and kappa, may be found in antibodies. Depending on the amino acid sequence of the constant domain of heavy chains, immunoglobulins can be assigned to five major classes: A, D, E, G, and M, and several of these may be further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgG₁, IgG₂, IgG₃, IgG₄, IgA₁, and IgA₂. Each light chain includes an N-terminal variable (V) domain (VL) and a constant (C) domain (CL). Each heavy chain includes an N-terminal V domain (VH), three or four C domains (CHs), and a hinge region. The CH domain most proximal to VH is designated as CH1. The VH and VL domains consist of four regions of relatively conserved sequences called framework regions (FR1, FR2, FR3, and FR4), which form a scaffold for three regions of hypervariable sequences (complementarity determining regions, CDRs). The CDRs contain most of the residues responsible for specific interactions of the antibody with the antigen. CDRs are referred to as CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3. Accordingly, CDR constituents on the heavy chain are referred to as H1, H2, and H3, while CDR constituents on the light chain are referred to as L1, L2, and L3.

CDR3 is typically the greatest source of molecular diversity within the antibody-binding site. H3, for example, can be as short as two amino acid residues or greater than 26 amino acids. The subunit structures and three-dimensional configurations of different classes of immunoglobulins are well known in the art. For a review of the antibody structure, see Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, eds. Harlow et al., 1988. One of skill in the art will recognize that each subunit structure, e.g., a CH, VH, CL, VL, CDR, FR structure, comprises active fragments, e.g., the portion of the VH, VL, or CDR subunit the binds to the antigen, i.e., the antigen-binding fragment, or, e.g., the portion of the CH subunit that binds to and/or activates, e.g., an Fc receptor and/or complement. The CDRs typically refer to the Kabat CDRs, as described in Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, US Department of Health and Human Services (1991), eds. Kabat et al. Another standard for characterizing the antigen binding site is to refer to the hypervariable loops as described by Chothia. See, e.g., Chothia, D. et al. (1992) J. Mol. 227:799-817; and Tomlinson et al. (1995) EMBO J. 14:4628-4638. Still another standard is the AbM definition used by Oxford Molecular's AbM antibody modelling software. See, generally, e.g., Protein Sequence and Structure Analysis of Antibody Variable Domains. In: Antibody Engineering Lab Manual (Ed.: Duebel, S. and Kontermann, R., Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg). Embodiments described with respect to Kabat CDRs can alternatively be implemented using similar described relationships with respect to Chothia hypervariable loops or to the AbM-defined loops.

The Fab fragment (Fragment antigen-binding) consists of V_(H)-C_(H)1 and V_(L)-C_(L) domains covalently linked by a disulfide bond between the constant regions. The F_(v) fragment is smaller and consists of V_(H) and V_(L) domains non-covalently linked. To overcome the tendency of non-covalently linked domains to dissociate, a single chain F_(v) fragment (scF_(v)) can be constructed. The scF_(v) contains a flexible polypeptide that links (1) the C-terminus of V_(H) to the N-terminus of V_(L), or (2) the C-terminus of V_(L) to the N-terminus of V_(H). A 15-mer (Gly₄Ser)₃ peptide may be used as a linker, but other linkers are known in the art.

The sequence of antibody genes after assembly and somatic mutation is highly varied, and these varied genes are estimated to encode 10¹⁰ different antibody molecules (Immunoglobulin Genes, 2nd ed., eds. Jonio et al., Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., 1995).

A “bispecific” or “bifunctional antibody” is an artificial hybrid antibody having two different heavy/light chain pairs and two different binding sites. Bispecific antibodies can be produced by a variety of methods including fusion of hybridomas or linking of Fab′ fragments. See, e.g., Songsivilai & Lachmann, Clin. Exp. Immunol. 79:315-321 (1990); Kostelny et al., J. Immunol. 148, 1547-1553 (1992). In one embodiment, the bispecific antibody comprises a first binding domain polypeptide, such as a Fab′ fragment, linked via an immunoglobulin constant region to a second binding domain polypeptide.

Small Modular ImmunoPharmaceuticals (SMIP™) provide an example of a variant molecule comprising a binding domain polypeptide. SMIPs and their uses and applications are disclosed in e.g., U.S. Published Patent Application. Nos. 2003/0118592, 2003/0133939, 2004/0058445, 2005/0136049, 2005/0175614, 2005/0180970, 2005/0186216, 2005/0202012, 2005/0202023, 2005/0202028, 2005/0202534, and 2005/0238646, and related patent family members thereof, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

A SMIP™ typically refers to a binding domain-immunoglobulin fusion protein that includes a binding domain polypeptide that is fused or otherwise connected to an immunoglobulin hinge or hinge-acting region polypeptide, which in turn is fused or otherwise connected to a region comprising one or more native or engineered constant regions from an immunoglobulin heavy chain, other than CH1, for example, the CH2 and CH3 regions of IgG and IgA, or the CH3 and CH4 regions of IgE (see e.g., U.S. 2005/0136049 by Ledbetter, J. et al., which is incorporated by reference, for a more complete description). The binding domain-immunoglobulin fusion protein can further include a region that includes a native or engineered immunoglobulin heavy chain CH2 constant region polypeptide (or CH3 in the case of a construct derived in whole or in part from IgE) that is fused or otherwise connected to the hinge region polypeptide and a native or engineered immunoglobulin heavy chain CH3 constant region polypeptide (or CH4 in the case of a construct derived in whole or in part from IgE) that is fused or otherwise connected to the CH2 constant region polypeptide (or CH3 in the case of a construct derived in whole or in part from IgE). Typically, such binding domain-immunoglobulin fusion proteins are capable of at least one immunological activity selected from the group consisting of antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, complement fixation, and/or binding to a target, for example, a target antigen, such as human IL-22.

Therapeutic proteins, i.e., a protein or peptide that has a biological effect on a region in the body on which it acts or on a region of the body on which it remotely acts via intermediates, are also useful for practicing the invention. A therapeutic protein can include peptide mimetics. Mimetics are peptide-containing molecules that mimic elements of protein secondary structure. See, for example, Johnson et al., “Peptide Turn Mimetics” in BIOTECHNOLOGY AND PHARMACY, Pezzuto et al., Eds., Chapman and Hall, New York (1993), incorporated herein by reference. The underlying rationale behind the use of peptide mimetics is that the peptide backbone of proteins exists chiefly to orient amino acid side chains in such a way as to facilitate molecular interactions, such as those of antibody and antigen. A peptide mimetic is expected to permit molecular interactions similar to the natural molecule. These principles may be used to engineer second generation molecules having many of the natural properties of the targeting peptides disclosed herein, but with altered and potentially improved characteristics.

Other embodiments of therapeutic proteins include fusion proteins. These molecules generally have all or a substantial portion of a targeting peptide, for example, IL-22 or an anti-IL-22 antibody, linked at the N- or C-terminus, to all or a portion of a second polypeptide or protein. For example, fusions may employ leader sequences from other species to permit the recombinant expression of a protein in a heterologous host. Another useful fusion includes the addition of an immunologically active domain, such as an antibody epitope, to facilitate purification of the fusion protein. Inclusion of a cleavage site at or near the fusion junction will facilitate removal of the extraneous polypeptide after purification. Other useful fusions include linking of functional domains, such as active sites from enzymes, glycosylation domains, cellular targeting signals or transmembrane regions. Examples of proteins or peptides that may be incorporated into a fusion protein include cytostatic proteins, cytocidal proteins, pro-apoptosis agents, anti-angiogenic agents, hormones, cytokines, growth factors, peptide drugs, antibodies, Fab fragments of antibodies, antigens, receptor proteins, enzymes, lectins, MHC proteins, cell adhesion proteins and binding proteins. Methods of generating fusion proteins are well known to those of skill in the art. Such proteins can be produced, for example, by chemical attachment using bifunctional cross-linking reagents, by de novo synthesis of the complete fusion protein, or by attachment of a DNA sequence encoding the targeting peptide to a DNA sequence encoding the second peptide or protein, followed by expression of the intact fusion protein.

In one embodiment, the targeting peptide, for example, IL-22 or an anti-IL-22 antibody, is fused with an immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region, such as an Fc fragment, which contains two constant region domains and a hinge region but lacks the variable region (See, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,018,026 and 5,750,375, incorporated herein by reference). The Fc region may be a naturally occurring Fc region, or may be altered to improve certain qualities, such as therapeutic qualities, circulation time, reduced aggregation, etc. Peptides and proteins fused to an Fc region typically exhibit a greater half-life in vivo than the unfused counterpart. Also, a fusion to an Fc region permits dimerization/multimerization of the fusion polypeptide.

VHH molecules (or nanobodies), as known to the skilled artisan, are heavy chain variable domains derived from immunoglobulins naturally devoid of light chains, such as those derived from Camelidae as described in WO 9404678, incorporated herein by reference. Such a VHH molecule can be derived from antibodies raised in Camelidae species, for example in camel, llama, dromedary, alpaca and guanaco and is sometomes called a camelid or camelized variable domain. See e.g., Muyldermans., J. Biotechnology (2001) 74(4):277-302, incorporated herein by reference. Other species besides Camelidae may produce heavy chain antibodies naturally devoid of light chain. VHH molecules are about 10 times smaller than IgG molecules. They are single polypeptides and very stable, resisting extreme pH and temperature conditions. Moreover, they are resistant to the action of proteases which is not the case for conventional antibodies. Furthermore, in vitro expression of VHHs produces high yield, properly folded functional VHHs. In addition, antibodies generated in Camelids will recognize epitopes other than those recognized by antibodies generated in vitro through the use of antibody libraries or via immunization of mammals other than Camelids (see WO 9749805, which is incorporated herein by reference).

One aspect of the present invention comprises antibodies and antigen binding fragments that bind IL-22. The disclosure provides novel CDRs derived from human immunoglobulin gene libraries. The structure for carrying a CDR is generally an antibody heavy or light chain or portion thereof, where the CDR is located to a naturally occurring CDR region. The structures and locations of variable domains may be determined as described in Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, No. 91-3242, National Institutes of Health Publications, Bethesda, Md. (1991).

DNA and amino acid (AA) sequences of illustrative embodiments of the anti-IL-22 antibodies of this invention, including their scF_(v) fragments, V_(H) and V_(L) domains, and CDRs, are set forth in FIGS. 7-10 and enumerated in Tables 1 and 7. Twenty specific embodiments of the non-germlined antibodies are identified as GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, and 356A11. The CDR positions in the V_(H) and V_(L) domains of the non-germlined antibodies are listed in Table 2. Fifteen specific embodiments of the germlined antibodies are identified as GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 062A09, 087B03, 166B06, 166G05, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, 356A11, and 368D04.

TABLE 1 Amino acid and Nucleotide Sequences of V_(H) and V_(L) Domains, Fv, and CDRs of Non-germlined Antibodies GIL01 GIL16 GIL45 GIL60 GIL68 GIL92 097D09 062A09 062G05 087B03 Region Type SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID V_(H) AA NO: 5 NO: 23 NO: 41 NO: 59 NO: 77 NO: 95 NO: 113 NO: 131 NO: 149 NO: 167 V_(L) AA NO: 6 NO: 24 NO: 42 NO: 60 NO: 78 NO: 96 NO: 114 NO: 132 NO: 150 NO: 168 scFv AA NO: 7 NO: 25 NO: 43 NO: 61 NO: 79 NO: 97 NO: 115 NO: 133 NO: 151 NO: 169 H1 AA NO: 8 NO: 26 NO: 44 NO: 62 NO: 80 NO: 98 NO: 116 NO: 134 NO: 152 NO: 170 H2 AA NO: 9 NO: 27 NO: 45 NO: 63 NO: 81 NO: 99 NO: 117 NO: 135 NO: 153 NO: 171 H3 AA NO: 10 NO: 28 NO: 46 NO: 64 NO: 82 NO: 100 NO: 118 NO: 136 NO: 154 NO: 172 L1 AA NO: 11 NO: 29 NO: 47 NO: 65 NO: 83 NO: 101 NO: 119 NO: 137 NO: 155 NO: 173 L2 AA NO: 12 NO: 30 NO: 48 NO: 66 NO: 84 NO: 102 NO: 120 NO: 138 NO: 156 NO: 174 L3 AA NO: 13 NO: 31 NO: 49 NO: 67 NO: 85 NO: 103 NO: 121 NO: 139 NO: 157 NO: 175 V_(H) DNA NO: 14 NO: 32 NO: 50 NO: 68 NO: 86 NO: 104 NO: 122 NO: 140 NO: 158 NO: 176 V_(L) DNA NO: 15 NO: 33 NO: 51 NO: 69 NO: 87 NO: 105 NO: 123 NO: 141 NO: 159 NO: 177 scF_(v) DNA NO: 16 NO: 34 NO: 52 NO: 70 NO: 88 NO: 106 NO: 124 NO: 142 NO: 160 NO: 178 H1 DNA NO: 17 NO: 35 NO: 53 NO: 71 NO: 89 NO: 107 NO: 125 NO: 143 NO: 161 NO: 179 H2 DNA NO: 18 NO: 36 NO: 54 NO: 72 NO: 90 NO: 108 NO: 126 NO: 144 NO: 162 NO: 180 H3 DNA NO: 19 NO: 37 NO: 55 NO: 73 NO: 91 NO: 109 NO: 127 NO: 145 NO: 163 NO: 181 L1 DNA NO: 20 NO: 38 NO: 56 NO: 74 NO: 92 NO: 110 NO: 128 NO: 146 NO: 164 NO: 182 L2 DNA NO: 21 NO: 39 NO: 57 NO: 75 NO: 93 NO: 111 NO: 129 NO: 147 NO: 165 NO: 183 L3 DNA NO: 22 NO: 40 NO: 58 NO: 76 NO: 94 NO: 112 NO: 130 NO: 148 NO: 166 NO: 184 367D04 368D04 166B06 166G05 375G06 376B10 354A08 355B06 355E04 356A11 Region Type SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID V_(H) AA NO: 185 NO: 203 NO: 221 NO: 239 NO: 257 NO: 275 NO: 293 NO: 311 NO: 329 NO: 347 V_(L) AA NO: 186 NO: 204 NO: 222 NO: 240 NO: 258 NO: 276 NO: 294 NO: 312 NO: 330 NO: 348 scF_(v) AA NO: 187 NO: 205 NO: 223 NO: 241 NO: 259 NO: 277 NO: 295 NO: 313 NO: 331 NO: 349 H1 AA NO: 188 NO: 206 NO: 224 NO: 242 NO: 260 NO: 278 NO: 296 NO: 314 NO: 332 NO: 350 H2 AA NO: 189 NO: 207 NO: 225 NO: 243 NO: 261 NO: 279 NO: 297 NO: 315 NO: 333 NO: 351 H3 AA NO: 190 NO: 208 NO: 226 NO: 244 NO: 262 NO: 280 NO: 298 NO: 316 NO: 334 NO: 352 L1 AA NO: 191 NO: 209 NO: 227 NO: 245 NO: 263 NO: 281 NO: 299 NO: 317 NO: 335 NO: 353 L2 AA NO: 192 NO: 210 NO: 228 NO: 246 NO: 264 NO: 282 NO: 300 NO: 318 NO: 336 NO: 354 L3 AA NO: 193 NO: 211 NO: 229 NO: 247 NO: 265 NO: 283 NO: 301 NO: 319 NO: 337 NO: 355 V_(H) DNA NO: 194 NO: 212 NO: 230 NO: 248 NO: 266 NO: 284 NO: 302 NO: 320 NO: 338 NO: 356 V_(L) DNA NO: 195 NO: 213 NO: 231 NO: 249 NO: 267 NO: 285 NO: 303 NO: 321 NO: 339 NO: 357 scF_(v) DNA NO: 196 NO: 214 NO: 232 NO: 250 NO: 268 NO: 286 NO: 304 NO: 322 NO: 340 NO: 358 H1 DNA NO: 197 NO: 215 NO: 233 NO: 251 NO: 269 NO: 287 NO: 305 NO: 323 NO: 341 NO: 359 H2 DNA NO: 198 NO: 216 NO: 234 NO: 252 NO: 270 NO: 288 NO: 306 NO: 324 NO: 342 NO: 360 H3 DNA NO: 199 NO: 217 NO: 235 NO: 253 NO: 271 NO: 289 NO: 307 NO: 325 NO: 343 NO: 361 L1 DNA NO: 200 NO: 218 NO: 236 NO: 254 NO: 272 NO: 290 NO: 308 NO: 326 NO: 344 NO: 362 L2 DNA NO: 201 NO: 219 NO: 237 NO: 255 NO: 273 NO: 291 NO: 309 NO: 327 NO: 345 NO: 363 L3 DNA NO: 202 NO: 220 NO: 238 NO: 256 NO: 274 NO: 292 NO: 310 NO: 328 NO: 346 NO: 364

TABLE 2 Positions of CDRs within Non-germlined Antibody Amino Acid Sequences of V_(H) and V_(L) Domains CDR GIL01 GIL16 GIL45 GIL60 GIL68 GIL92 097D09 062A09 062G05 087B03 H1 31-35 31-35 31-35 31-35 31-35 31-35 31-35 31-35 31-35 31-35 H2 50-66 50-66 50-66 50-66 50-66 50-66 50-66 50-66 50-66 50-66 H3  99-108  99-108  99-108  99-110  99-108  99-110  99-108  99-108  99-108  99-110 L1 24-34 24-34 23-36 23-36 23-33 23-36 24-34 24-34 24-34 23-36 L2 50-56 50-56 52-58 52-58 49-55 52-58 50-56 50-56 50-56 52-58 L3 89-97 89-97  91-100  91-100 88-98  91-101 89-97 89-97 89-97  91-100 CDR 367D04 368D04 166B06 166G05 375G06 376B10 354A08 355B06 355E04 356A11 H1 31-35 31-35 31-35 31-35 31-35 31-35 30-34 31-35 31-35 31-35 H2 50-66 50-66 50-66 50-66 50-66 50-66 49-65 50-66 50-66 50-66 H3  99-110  99-110  99-108  99-108  99-108  99-108  98-109  99-110  99-110  99-110 L1 23-36 23-36 23-33 23-33 23-33 23-33 23-36 23-36 23-36 22-35 L2 52-58 52-58 49-55 49-55 49-55 49-55 52-58 52-58 52-58 51-58 L3  91-100  91-100 88-98 88-98 88-98 88-98  91-101  91-101  91-101  90-100

Anti-IL-22 antibodies of this invention may optionally comprise antibody constant regions or parts thereof. For example, a V_(L) domain may be attached at its C-terminal end to a light chain constant domain like Cκ or Cλ. Similarly, a V_(H) domain or portion thereof may be attached to all or part of a heavy chain like IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, and any isotype subclass. Constant regions are known in the art (see, for example, Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, No. 91-3242, National Institutes of Health Publications, Bethesda, Md. (1991)). Therefore, antibodies within the scope of this invention include V_(H) and V_(L) domains, or a portion thereof, combined with constant regions known in the art.

Certain embodiments comprise a V_(H) domain, a V_(L) domain, or a combination thereof, of the F_(v) fragment from GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11. Another embodiment comprises a V_(H) domain, a V_(L) domain, or a combination thereof, of the F_(v) fragment from an antibody chosen from 356A11, 354A08, 087B03, and 368D04. Further embodiments comprise one, two, three, four, five or six complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the V_(H) and V₁ domains. Antibodies whose CDR sequences are included within SEQ ID NO:5-13, 23-31, 41-49, 59-67, 77-85, 95-103, 113-121, 131-139, 149-157, 167-175, 185-193, 203-211, 221-229, 239-247, 257-265, 275-283, 293-301, 311-319, 329-337, 347-355, 365-373, 383-391, 401-409, 419-427, 437-445, 455-463, 473-481, 491-499, 509-517, 527-535, 545-553, 563-571, 581-589, 599-607, or 617-625 are encompassed within the scope of this invention. For example, in one embodiment, an antibody comprises a H3 fragment of the V_(H) domain of germlined or non-germlined GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11 or from an antibody chosen from 356A11, 354A08, 087B03, and 368D04.

In certain embodiments, the V_(H) and/or V_(L) domains may be germlined, i.e., the framework regions (FR) of these domains are mutated using conventional molecular biology techniques to match those produced by the germline cells. In other embodiments, the FR sequences remain diverged from the consensus germline sequences. In one embodiment of this invention, germlined antibodies are shown in Table 7.

In one embodiment, the invention provides amino acid and nucleic acid sequences for the germlined GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences for the V_(H) domain of the germlined GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 062A09, 087B03, 166B06, 166G05, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, 356A11, and 368D04 are depicted in Table 7 and FIG. 8. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences for the V_(L) domain of the germlined GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 062A09, 087B03, 166B06, 166G05, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, 356A11, and 368D04 are also depicted in Table 7 and FIG. 8.

In one embodiment, mutagenesis is used to make an antibody more similar to one or more germline sequences. This may be desirable when mutations are introduced into the framework region of an antibody through somatic mutagenesis or through error prone PCR. Germline sequences for the V_(H) and V_(L) domains can be identified by performing amino acid and nucleic acid sequence alignments against the VBASE database (MRC Center for Protein Engineering, UK). VBASE is a comprehensive directory of all human germline variable region sequences compiled from over a thousand published sequences, including those in the current releases of the Genbank and EMBL data libraries. In some embodiments, the FR regions of the scFvs are mutated in conformity with the closest matches in the VBASE database and the CDR portions are kept intact.

In certain embodiments, antibodies of this invention specifically react with an epitope that is the same as the epitope recognized by GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11, such that they competitively inhibit the binding of GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11 to human IL-22. Such antibodies can be determined in competitive binding assays. In one embodiment, the antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, binds to an IL-22 epitope that is recognized by 368D04, such that the antibody competitively inhibits the binding of 368D04 to human IL-22. In another embodiment, the antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, binds to an IL-22 epitope that is recognized by 356A11, such that the antibody competitively inhibits the binding of 356A11 to human IL-22. In another embodiment, the antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, binds to an IL-22 epitope that is recognized by 354A08, such that the antibody competitively inhibits the binding of 354A08 to human IL-22. In another embodiment, the antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, binds to an IL-22 epitope that is recognized by 087B03, such that the antibody competitively inhibits the binding of 087B03 to human IL-22. In one embodiment, the association constant (K_(A)) of these antibodies for human IL-22 is at least 10⁶ M⁻¹. In another embodiment, the association constant of these antibodies for human IL-22 is at least 10⁹ M⁻¹. In other embodiments, the association constant of these antibodies for human IL-22 is at least 10¹⁰ M⁻¹, at least 10¹¹ M⁻¹, or at least 10¹² M⁻¹. The binding affinity may be determined using techniques known in the art, such as ELISA, biosensor technology, such as biospecific interaction analysis, or other techniques including those described in this application.

It is contemplated that antibodies of this invention may bind other proteins, such as, for example, recombinant proteins comprising all or a portion of IL-22.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed antibodies may be used to detect, measure, and/or inhibit proteins that differ somewhat from IL-22. For example, these proteins may be homologs of IL-22. Anti-IL-22 antibodies are expected to bind proteins that comprise a sequence which is at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or more identical to any sequence of at least 100, 80, 60, 40, or 20 contiguous amino acids in the sequence set forth SEQ ID NO:1.

In addition to sequence homology analyses, epitope mapping (see, e.g., Epitope Mapping Protocols, ed. Morris, Humana Press, 1996), and secondary and tertiary structure analyses can be carried out to identify specific 3D structures assumed by the presently disclosed antibodies and their complexes with antigens. Such methods include, but are not limited to, X-ray crystallography (Engstom (1974) Biochem. Exp. Biol., 11:7-13) and computer modeling of virtual representations of the present antibodies (Fletterick et al. (1986) Computer Graphics and Molecular Modeling, in Current Communications in Molecular Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).

The disclosure provides a method for obtaining anti-IL-22 antibodies that comprises creating antibodies with altered Table 1V_(H) and/or V_(L) sequence(s). Such antibodies may be derived by a skilled artisan using techniques known in the art. For example, amino acid substitutions, deletions, or additions can be introduced in FR and/or CDR regions. FR changes are usually designed to improve the stability and immunogenicity of the antibody, while CDR changes are typically designed to increase antibody affinity for its antigen. The changes that increase affinity may be tested by altering CDR sequence and measuring antibody affinity for its target (see Antibody Engineering, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, ed. Borrebaeck, 1995).

Antibodies whose CDR sequences differ insubstantially from those included in or included within the sequences in SEQ ID NO: 5-13, 23-31, 41-49, 59-67, 77-85, 95-103, 113-121, 131-139, 149-157, 167-175, 185-193, 203-211, 221-229, 239-247, 257-265, 275-283, 293-301, 311-319, 329-337, 347-355, 365-373, 383-391, 401-409, 419-427, 437-445, 455-463, 473-481, 491-499, 509-517, 527-535, 545-553, 563-571, 581-589, 599-607, or 617-625, are encompassed within the scope of this invention. Typically, this involves substitution of an amino acid with an amino acid having similar charge, hydrophobic, or stereochemical characteristics. More drastic substitutions in FR regions, in contrast to CDR regions, may also be made as long as they do not adversely affect (e.g., reduce affinity by more than 50% as compared to unsubstituted antibody) the binding properties of the antibody. Substitutions may also be made to germline the antibody or stabilize the antigen binding site.

Conservative modifications will produce molecules having functional and chemical characteristics similar to those of the molecule from which such modifications are made. In contrast, substantial modifications in the functional and/or chemical characteristics of the molecules may be accomplished by selecting substitutions in the amino acid sequence that differ significantly in their effect on maintaining (1) the structure of the molecular backbone in the area of the substitution, for example, as a sheet or helical conformation, (2) the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site, or (3) the size of the molecule.

For example, a “conservative amino acid substitution” may involve a substitution of a native amino acid residue with a normative residue such that there is little or no effect on the polarity or charge of the amino acid residue at that position. (See, for example, MacLennan et al., 1998, Acta Physiol. Scand. Suppl. 643:55-67; Sasaki et al., 1998, Adv. Biophys. 35:1-24).

Desired amino acid substitutions (whether conservative or non-conservative) can be determined by those skilled in the art at the time such substitutions are desired. For example, amino acid substitutions can be used to identify important residues of the molecule sequence, or to increase or decrease the affinity of the molecules described herein. Exemplary amino acid substitutions include, but are not limited to, those set forth in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Amino Acid Substitutions More Original Exemplary Conservative Residues Substitutions Substitutions Ala (A) Val, Leu, Ile Val Arg (R) Lys, Gln, Asn Lys Asn (N) Gln Gln Asp (D) Glu Glu Cys (C) Ser, Ala Ser Gln (Q) Asn Asn Gly (G) Pro, Ala Ala His (H) Asn, Gln, Lys, Arg Arg Ile (I) Leu, Val, Met, Ala, Phe, Norleucine Leu Leu (L) Norleucine, Ile, Val, Met, Ala, Phe Ile Lys (K) Arg, 1,4 Diamino-butyric Acid, Gln, Arg Asn Met (M) Leu, Phe, Ile Leu Phe (F) Leu, Val, Ile, Ala, Tyr Leu Pro (P) Ala Gly Ser (S) Thr, Ala, Cys Thr Thr (T) Ser Ser Trp (W) Tyr, Phe Tyr Tyr (Y) Trp, Phe, Thr, Ser Phe Val (V) Ile, Met, Leu, Phe, Ala, Norleucine Leu

In certain embodiments, conservative amino acid substitutions also encompass non-naturally occurring amino acid residues which are typically incorporated by chemical peptide synthesis rather than by synthesis in biological systems.

In one embodiment, the method for making a variant V_(H) domain comprises adding, deleting, or substituting at least one amino acid in the disclosed V_(H) domains, or combining the disclosed V_(H) domains with at least one V_(L) domain, and testing the variant V_(H) domain for IL-22 binding or modulation of IL-22 activity.

An analogous method for making a variant V_(L) domain comprises adding, deleting, or substituting at least one amino acid in the disclosed V_(L) domains, or combining the disclosed V_(L) domains with at least one V_(H) domain, and testing the variant V_(L) domain for IL-22 binding or modulation of IL-22 activity.

A further aspect of the disclosure provides a method for preparing antibodies or antigen-binding fragments that specifically bind IL-22. The method comprises:

(a) providing a starting repertoire of nucleic acids encoding a V_(H) domain which lacks at least one CDR or contains at least one CDR to be replaced;

(b) inserting into or replacing the CDR region of the starting repertoire with at least one donor nucleic acid encoding an amino acid sequence as substantially set out herein for a V_(H) CDR, yielding a product repertoire;

(c) expressing the nucleic acids of the product repertoire;

(d) selecting a specific antigen-binding fragment that binds to IL-22; and

(e) recovering the specific antigen-binding fragment or nucleic acid encoding it.

In an analogous method at least one V_(L) CDR of the invention is combined with a repertoire of nucleic acids encoding a V_(L) domain which lacks at least one CDR or contains at least one CDR to be replaced. The at least one V_(H) or V_(L) CDR may be a CDR1, a CDR2, a CDR3, or a combination thereof, including combinations of V_(H) and V_(L) CDRs, such as those set forth in Tables 1 or 7, including those set out in SEQ ID NO:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 553, 566, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, or 625.

In one embodiment, the variable domain includes a CDR3 to be replaced or lacks a CDR3 encoding region and the at least one donor nucleic acid encodes an amino acid substantially as set out in SEQ ID NO:10, 13, 28, 31, 46, 49, 64, 67, 82, 85, 100, 103, 118, 121, 136, 139, 154, 157, 172, 175, 190, 193, 208, 211, 226, 229, 244, 247, 262, 265, 280, 283, 298, 301, 316, 319, 334, 337, 352, 355, 370, 373, 388, 391, 406, 409, 424, 427, 442, 445, 460, 463, 478, 481, 496, 499, 514, 517, 532, 535, 550, 553, 568, 571, 586, 589, 604, 607, 622, or 625.

In another embodiment, the variable domain includes a CDR1 to be replaced or lacks a CDR1 encoding region and the at least one donor nucleic acid encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set out in SEQ ID NO:8, 11, 26, 29, 44, 47, 62, 65, 80, 83, 98, 101, 116, 119, 134, 137, 152, 155, 170, 173, 188, 191, 206, 209, 224, 227, 242, 245, 260, 263, 278, 281, 296, 299, 314, 317, 332, 335, 350, 353, 368, 371, 386, 389, 404, 407, 422, 425, 440, 443, 458, 461, 476, 479, 494, 497, 512, 515, 530, 533, 548, 551, 566, 569, 584, 587, 602, 605, 620, or 623.

In another embodiment, the variable domain includes a CDR2 to be replaced or lacks a CDR2 encoding region and the at least one donor nucleic acid encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set out in SEQ ID NO:9, 12, 27, 30, 45, 48, 63, 66, 81, 84, 99, 102, 117, 120, 135, 138, 153, 156, 171, 174, 189, 192, 207, 210, 225, 228, 243, 246, 261, 264, 279, 282, 297, 300, 315, 318, 333, 336, 351, 354, 369, 372, 387, 390, 405, 408, 423, 426, 441, 444, 459, 462, 477, 480, 495, 498, 513, 516, 531, 534, 549, 552, 567, 570, 585, 588, 603, 606, 621, or 624.

In another embodiment, the variable domain includes a CDR3 to be replaced or lacks a CDR3 encoding region and further comprises a CDR1 to be replaced or lacks a CDR1 encoding region, where the at least one donor nucleic acid encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set out in Tables 1 or 7.

In another embodiment, the variable domain includes a CDR3 to be replaced or lacks a CDR3 encoding region and further comprises a CDR2 to be replaced or lacks a CDR2 encoding region, where the at least one donor nucleic acid encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set out in Tables 1 or 7.

In another embodiment, the variable domain includes a CDR3 to be replaced or lacks a CDR3 encoding region and further comprises a CDR1 and a CDR2 to be replaced or lacks a CDR1 and a CDR2 encoding region, where the at least one donor nucleic acid encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set out in Tables 1 or 7.

Using recombinant DNA methodology, a disclosed CDR sequence may be introduced into a repertoire of V_(H) or V_(L) domains lacking the respective CDR (Marks et al. (BioTechnology (1992) 10: 779-783). For example, a primer adjacent to the 5′ end of the variable domain and a primer to the third FR can be used to generate a repertoire of variable domain sequences lacking CDR3. This repertoire can be combined with a CDR3 of a disclosed antibody. Using analogous techniques, portions of a disclosed CDR sequence may be shuffled with portions of CDR sequences from other antibodies to provide a repertoire of antigen-binding fragments that bind IL-22. Either repertoire can be expressed in a host system such as phage display (described in WO 92/01047 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,108) so suitable antigen-binding fragments that bind to IL-22 can be selected.

A further alternative uses random mutagenesis of the disclosed V_(H) or V_(L) sequences to generate variant V_(H) or V_(L) domains still capable of binding IL-22. A technique using error-prone PCR is described by Gram et al. (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1992) 89: 3576-3580).

Another method uses direct mutagenesis of the disclosed V_(H) or V_(L) sequences. Such techniques are disclosed by Barbas et al. (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1994) 91: 3809-3813) and Schier et al. (J. Mol. Biol. (1996) 263: 551-567).

A portion of a variable domain will comprise at least one CDR region substantially as set out herein and, optionally, intervening framework regions from the V_(H) or V_(L) domains as set out herein. The portion may include the C-terminal half of FR1 and/or the N-terminal half of FR4. Additional residues at the N-terminal or C-terminal end of the variable domain may not be the same residues found in naturally occurring antibodies. For example, construction of antibodies by recombinant DNA techniques often introduces N- or C-terminal residues from its use of linkers. Some linkers may be used to join variable domains to other variable domains (e.g., diabodies), constant domains, or proteinaceous labels.

Although the embodiments illustrated in the Examples comprise a “matching” pair of V_(H) and V_(L) domains, a skilled artisan will recognize that alternative embodiments may comprise antigen-binding fragments containing only a single CDR from either V_(L) or V_(H) domain. Either one of the single chain specific antigen-binding domains can be used to screen for complementary domains capable of forming a two-domain specific antigen-binding fragment capable of, for example, binding to IL-22. The screening may be accomplished by phage display screening methods using the so-called hierarchical dual combinatorial approach disclosed in WO 92/01047. In this approach, an individual colony containing either a H or L chain clone is used to infect a complete library of clones encoding the other chain (L or H), and the resulting two-chain specific antigen-binding domain is selected in accordance with phage display techniques as described.

In some alternative embodiments, the anti-IL-22 antibodies can be linked to a protein (e.g., albumin) by chemical cross-linking or recombinant methods. The disclosed antibodies may also be linked to a variety of nonproteinaceous polymers (e.g., polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polyoxyalkylenes) in manners set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,640,835; 4,496,689; 4,301,144; 4,670,417; 4,791,192; or 4,179,337. The antibodies can be chemically modified by covalent conjugation to a polymer, for example, to increase their half-life in blood circulation. Exemplary polymers and attachment methods are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,766,106; 4,179,337; 4,495,285; and 4,609,546.

The disclosed antibodies can be modified to alter their glycosylation; that is, at least one carbohydrate moiety can be deleted or added to the antibody. Deletion or addition of glycosylation sites can be accomplished by changing amino acid sequence to delete or create glycosylation consensus sites, which are well known in the art. Another means of adding carbohydrate moieties is the chemical or enzymatic coupling of glycosides to amino acid residues of the antibody (see WO 87/05330 and Aplin et al. (1981) CRC Crit. Rev. Biochem., 22: 259-306). Removal of carbohydrate moieties can also be accomplished chemically or enzymatically (see Hakimuddin et al. (1987) Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 259: 52; Edge et al. (1981) Anal. Biochem., 118: 131; Thotakura et al. (1987) Meth. Enzymol., 138: 350).

Methods for altering an antibody constant region are known in the art. Antibodies with altered function (e.g., altered affinity for an effector ligand such as FcR on a cell or the C1 component of complement) can be produced by replacing at least one amino acid residue in the constant portion of the antibody with a different residue (see e.g., EP 388,151 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,821 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,260). Similar types of alterations could be described which if applied to a murine or other species antibody would reduce or eliminate similar functions.

For example, it is possible to alter the affinity of an Fc region of an antibody (e.g., an IgG, such as a human IgG) for FcR (e.g., Fc gamma R1) or C1q. The affinity may be altered by replacing at least one specified residue with at least one residue having an appropriate functionality on its side chain, or by introducing a charged functional group, such as glutamate or aspartate, or perhaps an aromatic non-polar residue such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan or alanine (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,821).

For example, replacing residue 297 (asparagine) with alanine in the IgG constant region significantly inhibits recruitment of effector cells, while only slightly reducing (about three fold weaker) affinity for Clq (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,821). The numbering of the residues in the heavy chain is that of the EU index (see Kabat et al., 1991 supra). This alteration destroys the glycosylation site and it is believed that the presence of carbohydrate is required for Fc receptor binding. Any other substitution at this site that destroys the glycosylation site is believed to cause a similar decrease in lytic activity. Other amino acid substitutions, e.g., changing any one of residues 318 (Glu), 320 (Lys) and 322 (Lys), to Ala, are also known to abolish Clq binding to the Fc region of IgG antibodies (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,821).

Modified antibodies can be produced which have a reduced interaction with an Fc receptor. For example, it has been shown that in human IgG₃, which binds to the human Fc gamma R1 receptor, changing Leu 235 to Glu destroys its interaction with the receptor. Mutations on adjacent or close sites in the hinge link region of an antibody (e.g., replacing residues 234, 236 or 237 with Ala) can also be used to affect antibody affinity for the Fc gamma R1 receptor. The numbering of the residues in the heavy chain is based in the EU index (see Kabat et al., 1991 supra).

Additional methods for altering the lytic activity of an antibody, for example, by altering at least one amino acid in the N-terminal region of the CH2 domain, are described in WO 94/29351 by Morgan et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,821.

The antibodies of this invention may be tagged with a detectable or functional label. These labels include radiolabels (e.g., ¹³¹I or ⁹⁹Tc), enzymatic labels (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase), and other chemical moieties (e.g., biotin).

The invention may also feature an isolated antibody that binds to IL-22, in particular, human IL-22. In certain embodiments, the anti-IL-22 antibody may have at least one of the following characteristics: (1) it is a monoclonal or single specificity antibody; (2) it is a human antibody; (3) it is an in vitro generated antibody; (4) it is an in vivo generated antibody (e.g., transgenic mouse system); (5) it binds to IL-22 with an association constant of at least 10¹² M⁻¹; (6) it binds to IL-22 with an association constant of at least 10¹¹ M⁻¹; (7) it binds to IL-22 with an association constant of at least 10¹⁰ M⁻¹; (8) it binds to IL-22 with an association constant of at least 10⁹ M⁻¹; (9) it binds to IL-22 with an association constant of at least 10⁶ M⁻¹; (10) it binds to IL-22 with a dissociation constant of 500 nM or less; (11) it binds to IL-22 with a dissociation constant of 10 nM or less; (12) it binds to IL-22 with a dissociation constant of 150 pM or less; (13) it binds to IL-22 with a dissociation constant of 60 pM or less; (14) it inhibits binding of IL-22 to IL-22R or a receptor complex of IL-22R and IL-10R2 with an IC₅₀ of 10 nM or less; (15) it blocks IL-22 mediated proliferation of IL-22 receptor engineered BaF3 cells with an IC₅₀ of 1 nM or less in one embodiment, with an IC₅₀ of 150 pM or less in another embodiment, with an IC₅₀ of 100 pM or less in another embodiment, and with an IC₅₀ of 10 pM or less in another embodiment; and (16) it blocks IL-22 mediated GROa secretion from HT29 with an IC₅₀ of 1 nM or less in one embodiment, with an IC₅₀ of 150 pM or less in another embodiment, and with an IC₅₀ of 10 pM or less in another embodiment.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that the modifications described above are not all-exhaustive, and that many other modifications are obvious to a skilled artisan in light of the teachings of the present disclosure.

III. Nucleic Acids, Cloning and Expression Systems

The disclosure provides isolated nucleic acids encoding the disclosed antibodies. The nucleic acids may comprise DNA or RNA, and they may be synthetic (completely or partially) or recombinant (completely or partially). Reference to a nucleotide sequence as set out herein encompasses a DNA molecule with the specified sequence, and encompasses a RNA molecule with the specified sequence in which U is substituted for T.

Also provided are nucleic acids that comprise a coding sequence for one, two, or three CDR's, a V_(H) domain, a V_(L) domain, or combinations thereof, as disclosed herein, or a sequence substantially identical thereto (e.g., a sequence at least 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or higher identical thereto, or which is capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to the sequences disclosed).

In one embodiment, the isolated nucleic acids have nucleotide sequences encoding heavy chain and light chain variable regions of an anti-IL-22 antibody having at least one CDR chosen from the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 8-13, 26-31, 44-49, 62-67, 80-85, 98-103, 116-121, 134-139, 152-157, 170-175, 188-193, 206-211, 224-229, 242-247, 260-265, 278-283, 296-301, 314-319, 332-337, 350-355, 368-373, 386-391, 404-409, 422-427, 440-445, 458-463, 476-481, 494-499, 512-517, 530-535, 548-553, 566-571, 584-589, 602-607, or 620-625; or sequence encoding a CDR which differs by one or two amino acids from the sequences described herein.

The nucleic acid can encode only the light chain or the heavy chain variable region, or can also encode an antibody light or heavy chain constant region, operatively linked to the corresponding variable region. In one embodiment, the light chain variable region is linked to a constant region chosen from a kappa or a lambda constant region. The light chain constant region may also be a human kappa or lambda type. In another embodiment, the heavy chain variable region is linked to a heavy chain constant region of an antibody isotype chosen from IgG (e.g., IgG₁, IgG₂, IgG₃, IgG₄), IgM, IgA₁, IgA₂, IgD, and IgE. The heavy chain constant region may be an IgG (e.g., an IgG₁) isotype.

The nucleic acid compositions of the present invention, while often in the native sequence (of cDNA or genomic DNA or mixtures thereof) except for modified restriction sites and the like, may be mutated in accordance with standard techniques to provide gene sequences. For coding sequences, these mutations, may affect amino acid sequence as desired. In particular, nucleotide sequences substantially identical to or derived from native V, D, J, constant, switches and other such sequences described herein are contemplated (where “derived” indicates that a sequence is identical or modified from another sequence).

In one embodiment, the nucleic acid differs (e.g., differs by substitution, insertion, or deletion) from that of the sequences provided (e.g., as follows: by at least one but less than 10, 20, 30, or 40 nucleotides; at least one but less than 1%, 5%, 10% or 20% of the nucleotides in the subject nucleic acid). If necessary for this analysis the sequences should be aligned for maximum homology. “Looped” out sequences from deletions or insertions, or mismatches, are considered differences. The difference may be at a nucleotide(s) encoding a non-essential residue(s), or the difference may be a conservative substitution(s).

The disclosure also provides nucleic acid constructs in the form of plasmids, vectors, transcription or expression cassettes, which comprise at least one nucleic acid as described herein.

The disclosure further provides a host cell that comprises at least one nucleic acid construct described herein.

Also provided are the methods of making the encoded protein(s) from the nucleic acid(s) comprising sequence described herein. The method comprises culturing host cells under appropriate conditions so they express the protein from the nucleic acid. Following expression and production, the V_(H) or V_(L) domain, or specific binding member may be isolated and/or purified using any suitable technique, then used as appropriate. The method can also include the steps of fusing a nucleic acid encoding a scFv with nucleic acids encoding a Fc portion of an antibody and expressing the fused nucleic acid in a cell. The method can also include a step of germlining.

Antigen-binding fragments, V_(H) and/or V_(L) domains, and encoding nucleic acid molecules and vectors may be isolated and/or purified from their natural environment, in substantially pure or homogenous form, or, in the case of nucleic acid, free or substantially free of nucleic acid or genes of origin other than the sequence encoding a polypeptide with the require function.

Systems for cloning and expressing polypeptides in a variety of host cells are known in the art. Cells suitable for producing antibodies are described in, for example, Fernandez et al. (1999) Gene Expression Systems, Academic Press, eds. In brief, suitable host cells include mammalian cells, insect cells, plant cells, yeast cells, or prokaryotic cells, e.g., E. coli. Mammalian cells available in the art for heterologous polypeptide expression include lymphocytic cell lines (e.g., NSO), HEK293 cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, COS cells, HeLa cells, baby hamster kidney cells, oocyte cells, and cells from a transgenic animal, e.g., mammary epithelial cell. In one embodiment, the GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, and 356A11 antibodies are expressed in HEK293 or CHO cells. In another embodiment, a selection of antibodies chosen from 365A11, 354A08, 087B03, and 368D04 are, expressed in HEK293 or CHO cells. In other embodiments, the nucleic acids encoding the antibodies of the invention are placed under the control of a tissue-specific promoter (e.g., a mammary specific promoter) and the antibodies are produced in transgenic animals. For example, the antibodies are secreted into the milk of the transgenic animal, such as a transgenic cow, pig, horse, sheep, goat or rodent.

Suitable vectors may be chosen or constructed to contain appropriate regulatory sequences, including promoter sequences, terminator sequences, polyadenylation sequences, enhancer sequences, marker genes, and other sequences. The vectors may also contain a plasmid or viral backbone. For details, see Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989). Many established techniques used with vectors, including the manipulation, preparation, mutagenesis, sequencing, and transfection of DNA, are described in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Second Edition, Ausubel et al. eds., John Wiley & Sons (1992).

A further aspect of the disclosure provides a method of introducing the nucleic acid into a host cell. For eukaryotic cells, suitable transfection techniques may include calcium phosphate, DEAE-Dextran, electroporation, liposome-mediated transfection, and transduction using retrovirus or other viruses, e.g., vaccinia or baculovirus. For bacterial cells, suitable techniques may include calcium chloride transformation, electroporation, and transfection using bacteriophage. DNA introduction may be followed by a selection method (e.g., drug resistance) to select cells that contain the nucleic acid.

IV. Uses of Anti-IL-22 Antibodies

Anti-IL-22 antibodies that act as antagonists to IL-22 can be used to regulate at least one IL-22-mediated immune response, such as acting on epithelial cells in solid tissue and indirectly modulating downstream immune responses, such as blocking expansion of T cell subsets, including, for example, T_(H)17 T cells. In one embodiment, antibodies of the invention are used in a method for regulating an immune response, the method comprising contacting IL-22 with an antibody of the invention thereby regulating the immune response. In one embodiment, the immune response comprises cell proliferation, cytolytic activity, cytokine secretion, or chemokine secretion.

Accordingly, the antibodies of the invention can be used to directly or indirectly inhibit the activity (e.g., proliferation, differentiation, and/or survival) of an immune or hematopoietic cell (e.g., a cell of myeloid, lymphoid, or erythroid lineage, or precursor cells thereof), and, thus, can be used to treat a variety of immune disorders and hyperproliferative disorders. Non-limiting examples of immune disorders that can be treated include, but are not limited to, autoimmune disorders, e.g., arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus-associated arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis), scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosis, HIV, Sjogren's syndrome, vasculitis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroiditis, dermatitis (including atopic dermatitis and eczematous dermatitis), myasthenia gravis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, colitis, diabetes mellitus (type I); inflammatory conditions of, e.g., the skin (e.g., psoriasis), cardiovascular system (e.g., atherosclerosis), nervous system (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), liver (e.g., hepatitis), kidney (e.g., nephritis) and pancreas (e.g., pancreatitis); cardiovascular disorders, e.g., cholesterol metabolic disorders, oxygen free radical injury, ischemia; disorders associated with wound healing; respiratory disorders, e.g., asthma and COPD (e.g., cystic fibrosis); acute inflammatory conditions (e.g., endotoxemia, sepsis and septicaemia, toxic shock syndrome and infectious disease); transplant rejection and allergy. In one embodiment, the IL-22-associated disorder is, an arthritic disorder, e.g., a disorder chosen from one or more of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis; a respiratory disorder (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); or an inflammatory condition of, e.g., the skin (e.g., psoriasis), cardiovascular system (e.g., atherosclerosis), nervous system (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), liver (e.g., hepatitis), kidney (e.g., nephritis), pancreas (e.g., pancreatitis), and gastrointestinal organs, e.g., colitis, Crohn's disease and IBD; acute inflammatory conditions, e.g., endotoxemia, sepsis and septicaemia, toxic shock syndrome and infectious disease; multiple organ failure; respiratory disease (ARD); amyloidosis; nephropathies such as glomerulosclerosis, membranous neuropathy, renal arteriosclerosis, glomerulonephritis, fibroproliferative diseases of the kidney, as well as other kidney disfunctions and renal tumors. Because of IL-22's effects on epithelia, anti-IL-22 antibodies can be used to treat epithelial cancers, e.g., carcinoma, melanoma and others. For a description of a rationale for IL-22 inhibition in these and other disease states see WO 03/083062 (pages 58-75).

Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disease that is characterized by inflammation and loss of myelin sheaths—the fatty material that insulates nerves and is needed for proper nerve function. Inflammation that results from an immune response that is dependent on IL-22 can be treated with the antibodies and compositions of this invention. In the experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) mouse model for multiple sclerosis (Tuohy et al. (J. Immunol. (1988) 141: 1126-1130), Sobel et al. (J. Immunol. (1984) 132: 2393-2401), and Traugott (Cell Immunol. (1989) 119: 114-129), treatment of mice with GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, or 356A11 injections prior (and continuously) to EAE induction may profoundly delay the onset of the disease. This can serve as a model for confirming use of the antibody of the invention. The antibodies of this invention may similarly be used to treat multiple sclerosis in humans.

Arthritis is a disease characterized by inflammation in the joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most frequent form of arthritis, involving inflammation of connective tissue and the synovial membrane, a membrane that lines the joint. The inflamed synovial membrane often infiltrates the joint and damages joint cartilage and bone. IL-22 and IL-22R protein and/or transcript is associated with both human diseases. In RA synovial biopsies, IL-22 protein is detected in vimentin⁺ synovial fibroblasts and some CD68⁺ macrophages while IL-22R is detected in synovial fibroblasts. Treatment of synovial fibroblasts with IL-22 induces the production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MCP-1, as well as general metabolic activity (Ikeuchi, H., et al. (2005) Arthritis Rheum. 52:1037-46). Inhibitors of IL-22 ameliorate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (WO 2005/000897 A2; U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,545). Increased secretion of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and more importantly, increased disease resulting from immune responses that are dependent on IL-22 may be treated with the antibodies of this invention. Similarly, the antibodies and compositions of this invention may be used to treat RA or other arthritic diseases in humans.

Transplant rejection is the immunological phenomenon where tissues from a donor are specifically “attacked” by immune cells of the host. The principle “attacking” cells are T cells, whose T cell receptors recognize the donor's MHC molecules as “foreign.” This recognition activates the T cells, which proliferate and secrete a variety of cytokines and cytolytic proteins that ultimately destroy the transplant. MLR and transplantation models have been described by Current Protocols in Immunology, Second Edition, Coligan et al. eds., John Wiley & Sons, 1994; Kasaian et al. (Immunity (2002) 16: 559-569); Fulmer et al. (Am. J. Anat. (1963) 113: 273-285), and Lenschow et al. (Science (1992) 257: 789-792). The antibodies and compositions of this invention may be used to reduce the MLR and treat transplant rejection and related diseases (e.g., graft versus host disease) in humans that are dependent on IL-22.

The antibodies of this invention can also be used to treat hyperproliferative disorders associated with aberrant activity of IL-22-responsive cells and IL-22R/IL-10R2-responsive cells by administering the antibodies in an amount sufficient to inhibit or reduce hyperproliferation of IL-22 and/or IL-22R and/or IL-10R2-responsive cells in a subject and allowing the antibodies to treat or prevent the disorder. IL-22 and IL-22R expression is constitutive on epithelial cells in a number of tissues including, but not limited to, pancreas, lung, skin, gut, liver, kidney (Kotenko, S. V. et al. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276:2725-32; Xie, M. H. et al. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275:31335-9; Wolk, K. et al. (2004) Immunity 21:241-54). In addition, IL-22 receptor complex is also expressed on the surface of fibroblasts from the diseased joint and normal gut (Ikeuchi, H. et al. (2005) Arthritis Rheum. 52:1037-46; Andoh, A. et al. (2005) Gastroenterology 129:969-84). Neoplastic derivatives of these cell types may be hyper responsive to IL-22, modulating these cells ability to survive in the organism. Hence antibodies to IL-22 may be used to inhibit the progression of such neoplasms, e.g. squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas, transitional cell papillomas and carcinomas, adenomas, adenocarcinoma, linitis plastica, insulinoma, glucagonoma, gastrinoma, vipoma, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, adenoid cyctic carcinoma, carcinoid tumor of appendix, prolactinoma, oncocytoma, hurthle cell adenoma, renal cell carcinoma, Grawitz tumor, multiple endocrine adenomas, endometroid adenoma, adnexal and skin appendage neoplasms, mucoepidermoid neoplams, cystic, mucinous and serous neoplasms, cystadenoma, pseudomyxoma peritonei, ductal, lobular and medullary neoplasms, acinar cell neoplasns, complex epithelial neoplasms, Warthin's tumor, thymoma, specialized gonadal neoplasms, sex cord-stromal tumor, thecoma, granulosa cell tumor, arrhenoblastoma, sertoli-leydig cell tumor, paraganglioma, pheochromocytoma, glomus tumor, malanocytic nevus, malignant melanoma, melanoma, nodular melanoma, dysplastic nevus, lentigo maligna, superficial spreading melanoma, or acral lentiginous melanoma. While the IL-22 receptor is not detected on ex vivo naïve or activated immune cells, dysregulation of the receptor might make such derivative neoplastic cells responsive to IL-22 and thus inhibition by an antibody to IL-22.

In another aspect, the invention features a method of decreasing, inhibiting or reducing an acute phase response in a subject. The method includes administering to the subject an anti-IL-22 antibody or fragment thereof as described herein, in an amount sufficient to decrease, inhibit or reduce the acute phase response in the subject. In one embodiment, the subject is a mammal, e.g., a human suffering from an IL-22-associated disorder as described herein, including, e.g., respiratory disorders, inflammatory disorders and autoimmune disorders. In one embodiment, the IL-22 binding agent is administered locally, e.g., topically, subcutaneously, or other administrations that are not in the general circulation.

IL-22 is believed to exert its inflammatory effects locally, e.g. by acting (e.g., directly acting) as a modular or a regulator of tissue inflammation as opposed to direct systemic effects. Accordingly, inhibition of IL-22 activity using, e.g. an anti-IL-22 antibody of the present invention may provide a more effective (e.g., less toxic) tissue-specific, anti-inflammatory agent than systemic anti-inflammatory modalities. Furthermore, inhibition of local IL-22 using, e.g., an anti-IL-22 antibody or fragment thereof described herein, may provide a useful candidate for combination with systemic anti-inflammatory modalities.

V. Combination Therapy

In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one anti-IL-22 antibody and at least one therapeutic agent is administered in combination therapy. The therapy is useful for treating pathological conditions or disorders, such as immune and inflammatory disorders. The term “in combination” in this context means that the antibody composition and the therapeutic agent are given substantially contemporaneously, either simultaneously or sequentially. In one embodiment, if given sequentially, at the onset of administration of the second compound, the first of the two compounds is still detectable at effective concentrations at the site of treatment. In another embodiment, if given sequentially, at the onset of administration of the second compound, the first of the two compounds is not detectable at effective concentrations at the site of treatment.

For example, the combination therapy can include at least one anti-IL-22 antibody co-formulated with, and/or co-administered with, at least one additional therapeutic agent. The additional agents may include at least one cytokine inhibitor, growth factor inhibitor, immunosuppressant, anti-inflammatory agent, metabolic inhibitor, enzyme inhibitor, cytotoxic agent, and cytostatic agent, as described in more detail below. In one embodiment, the additional agent is a standard treatment for arthritis, including, but not limited to, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs); corticosteroids, including prednisolone, prednisone, cortisone, and triamcinolone; and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and sulfasalazine, leflunomide (Araya), tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, including etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) (with or without methotrexate), and adalimumab (Humira), anti-CD20 antibody (e.g., Rituxan), soluble interleukin-1 receptor, such as anakinra (Kineret), gold, minocycline (Minocin), penicillamine, and cytotoxic agents, including azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and cyclosporine. Such combination therapies may advantageously utilize lower dosages of the administered therapeutic agents, thus avoiding possible toxicities or complications associated with the various monotherapies. Moreover, the additional therapeutic agents disclosed herein act on pathways in addition to or that differ from the IL-22/IL-22R/IL-10R2 pathway, and thus are expected to enhance and/or synergize with the effects of the anti-IL-22 antibodies.

Therapeutic agents used in combination with anti-IL-22 antibodies may be those agents that interfere at different stages in the autoimmune and subsequent inflammatory response. In one embodiment, at least one anti-IL-22 antibody described herein may be co-formulated with, and/or co-administered with, at least one cytokine and/or growth factor antagonist. The antagonists may include soluble receptors, peptide inhibitors, small molecules, ligand fusions, antibodies and binding fragments thereof (that bind cytokines or growth factors or their receptors or other cell surface molecules), and “anti-inflammatory cytokines” and agonists thereof.

Non-limiting examples of the agents that can be used in combination with the anti-IL-22 antibodies described herein, include, but are not limited to, antagonists of at least one interleukin (e.g., IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-12 (or one of its subunits p35 or p40), IL-13, IL-15, IL-16, IL-17A-F (including heterodimers thereof, for example, IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimer), IL-18, IL-19, IL-20, IL-21, and IL-23 (or one of its subunits p19 or p40); cytokine (e.g., TNFα, LT, EMAP-II, and GM-CSF); and growth factor (e.g., FGF and PDGF). The agents may also include, but not limited to, antagonists of at least one receptor for an interleukin, cytokine, and growth factor. Anti-IL-22 antibodies can also be combined with inhibitors (e.g., antibodies or binding fragments thereof) to cell surface molecules such as CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20 (e.g. Rituxan), CD25, CD28, CD30, CD40, CD45, CD69, CD80 (B7.1), CD86 (B7.2), CD90, or their ligands (e.g., CD154 (gp39, CD40L)), or LFA-1/ICAM-1 and VLA-4NCAM-1 (Yusuf-Makagiansar et al. (2002) Med Res Rev 22(2):146-67)). In certain embodiments, antagonists that can be used in combination with anti-IL-22 antibodies described herein may include antagonists of IL-1, IL-12 (or one of its subunits p35 or p40), TNFα, IL-15, IL-17A-F (including heterodimers thereof, for example, IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimer), IL-18, IL-19, IL-20, IL-21, and IL-23 (or one of its subunits p19 or p40), and their receptors.

Examples of those agents include IL-12 antagonists (such as antibodies that bind IL-12 (see e.g., WO 00/56772) or one of its subunits p35 or p40); IL-12 receptor inhibitors (such as antibodies to the IL-12 receptor); and soluble IL-12 receptor and fragments thereof. Examples of IL-15 antagonists include antibodies against IL-15 or its receptor, soluble fragments of the IL-15 receptor, and IL-15-binding proteins. Examples of IL-18 antagonists include antibodies to IL-18, soluble fragments of the IL-18 receptor, and IL-18 binding proteins (IL-18BP, Mallet et al. (2001) Circ. Res. 28). Examples of IL-1 antagonists include Interleukin-1-Converting Enzyme (ICE) inhibitors (such as Vx740), IL-1 antagonists (e.g., IL-1 RA (ANIKINRA (or Kineret), AMGEN)), sIL-1RII (Immunex), and anti-IL-1 receptor antibodies.

In one embodiment, the combination therapy includes at least one anti-IL-22 antibody co-formulated with, and/or co-administered with an antagonist, such as an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof or a soluble receptor, of at least one of IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimer, or IL-23 (or one of its subunits p19 or p40).

Examples of TNF antagonists include antibodies to TNF (e.g., human TNFα), such as D2E7 (human anti-TNFα antibody, U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,562, Humira™, BASF); CDP-571/CDP-870/BAY-10-3356 (humanized anti-TNFα antibodies, Celltech/Pharmacia); cA2 (chimeric anti-TNFα antibody, Remicade™, Centocor); and anti-TNF antibody fragments (e.g., CPD870). Other examples include soluble TNF receptor (e.g., human p55 or p75) fragments and derivatives, such as p55 kdTNFR-IgG (55 kD TNF receptor-IgG fusion protein, Lenercept™) and 75 kdTNFR-IgG (75 kD TNF receptor-IgG fusion protein, Enbrel™, Immunex, see, e.g., Arthritis & Rheumatism (1994) Vol. 37, S295; J. Invest. Med. (1996) Vol. 44, 235A). Further examples include enzyme antagonists (e.g., TNFα converting enzyme inhibitors (TACE) such as alpha-sulfonyl hydroxamic acid derivative (WO 01/55112) or N-hydroxyformamide inhibitor (GW 3333, -005, or -022)) and TNF-bp/s-TNFR (soluble TNF binding protein, see e.g., Arthritis & Rheumatism (1996) Vol. 39, No. 9 (supplement), S284; and Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. (1995) Vol. 268, pp. 37-42). TNF antagonists may be soluble TNF receptor (e.g., human p55 or p75) fragments and derivatives, such as 75 kdTNFR-IgG; and TNFα converting enzyme (TACE) inhibitors.

In other embodiments, the anti-IL-22 antibodies described herein can be administered in combination with at least one of the following: IL-13 antagonists, such as soluble IL-13 receptors and/or anti-IL-13 antibodies; and IL-2 antagonists, such as IL-2 fusion proteins (e.g., DAB 486-IL-2 and/or DAB 389-IL-2, Seragen, see e.g., Arthritis & Rheumatism (1993) Vol. 36, 1223) and anti-IL-2R antibodies (e.g., anti-Tac (humanized antibody, Protein Design Labs, see Cancer Res. 1990 Mar. 1; 50(5):1495-502)). Another combination includes anti-IL-22 antibodies in combination with non-depleting anti-CD4 inhibitors such as IDEC-CE9.1/SB 210396 (anti-CD4 antibody, IDEC/SmithKline). Yet other combinations include anti-IL-22 antibodies with antagonists (such as antibodies, soluble receptors, or antagonistic ligands) of costimulatory molecules, such as CD80 (B7.1) and CD86 (B7.2); ICOSL, ICOS, CD28, and CTLA4 (e.g., CTLA4-Ig (atabacept)); P-selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL); and anti-inflammatory cytokines and agonists thereof (e.g., antibodies). The anti-inflammatory cytokines may include IL-4 (DNAX/Schering); IL-10 (SCH 52000, recombinant IL-10, DNAX/Schering); IL-13; and TGF.

In other embodiments, at least one anti-IL-22 antibody can be co-formulated with, and/or co-administered with, at least one anti-inflammatory drug, immunosuppressant, metabolic inhibitor, and enzymatic inhibitor. Non-limiting examples of the drugs or inhibitors that can be used in combination with the IL-22 antagonists described herein, include, but are not limited to, at least one of: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (such as ibuprofen, Tenidap (see e.g., Arthritis & Rheumatism (1996) Vol. 39, No. 9 (supplement), S280)), Naproxen (see e.g., Neuro Report (1996) Vol. 7, pp. 1209-1213), Meloxicam, Piroxicam, Diclofenac, and Indomethacin); Sulfasalazine (see e.g., Arthritis & Rheumatism (1996) Vol. 39, No. 9 (supplement), S281); corticosteroid (such as prednisolone); cytokine suppressive anti-inflammatory drug (CSAID); and an inhibitor of nucleotide biosynthesis (such as an inhibitor of purine biosynthesis (e.g., folate antagonist such as methotrexate) and an inhibitor of pyrimidine biosynthesis (e.g., a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor such as leflunomide (see e.g., Arthritis & Rheumatism (1996) Vol. 39, No. 9 (supplement), S131; Inflammation Research (1996) Vol. 45, pp. 103-107)). Therapeutic agents for use in combination with IL-22/IL-22R or IL-22/IL-10R2 antagonists may include NSAIDs, CSAIDs, DHODH inhibitors (such as leflunomide), and folate antagonists (such as methotrexate).

Examples of additional inhibitors include at least one of: corticosteroid (oral, inhaled and local injection); immunosuppressant (such as cyclosporin and tacrolimus (FK-506)); a mTOR inhibitor (such as sirolimus (rapamycin) or a rapamycin derivative (e.g., ester rapamycin derivative such as CCI-779 (Elit. L. (2002) Current Opinion Investig. Drugs 3(8):1249-53; Huang, S. et al. (2002) Current Opinion Investig. Drugs 3(2):295-304))); an agent which interferes with the signaling of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFα and IL-1 (e.g., IRAK, NIK, IKK, p38 or a MAP kinase inhibitor); a COX2 inhibitor (e.g., celecoxib and variants thereof (MK-966), see e.g., Arthritis & Rheumatism (1996) Vol. 39, No. 9 (supplement), S81); a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (such as R973401, see e.g., Arthritis & Rheumatism (1996) Vol. 39, No. 9 (supplement), S282)); a phospholipase inhibitor (e.g., an inhibitor of cytosolic phospholipase 2 (cPLA2) such as trifluoromethyl ketone analogs (U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,892)); an inhibitor of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF); an inhibitor of the VEGF receptor; and an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Therapeutic agents for use in combination with anti-IL-22 antibodies may include immunosuppresants (such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus (FK-506)); and mTOR inhibitors (such as sirolimus (rapamycin) or rapamycin derivatives (e.g., ester rapamycin derivatives such as CCI-779)); COX2 inhibitors (such as celecoxib and variants thereof); and phospholipase inhibitors (such as inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase 2 (cPLA2) (e.g., trifluoromethyl ketone analogs)).

Examples of therapeutic agents that can be co-administered and/or co-formulated with at least one anti-IL-22 antibody, include, but are not limited to, at least one of: TNF antagonists (such as anti-TNF antibodies); soluble fragments of TNF receptors (e.g., human p55 and p75) and derivatives thereof (such as p55 kdTNFR-IgG (55 kD TNF receptor-IgG fusion protein, Lenercept™) and 75 kdTNFR-IgG (75 kD TNF receptor-IgG fusion protein, Enbrel™)); TNF enzyme antagonists (such as TACE inhibitors); antagonists of IL-12 (or one of its subunits p35 or p40), IL-15, IL-17A-F (including heterodimers thereof, for example, IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimer), IL-18, IL-19, IL-20, IL-21, IL-22, and IL-23 (or one of its subunits p19 or p40); T cell and B cell depleting agents (such as anti-CD4 or anti-CD22 antibodies); small molecule inhibitors (such as methotrexate and leflunomide); sirolimus (rapamycin) and analogs thereof (such as CCI-779); Cox-2 and cPLA2 inhibitors; p38, TPL-2, Mk-2 and NFκB inhibitors; RAGE and soluble RAGE; P-selectin and PSGL-1 inhibitors (such as antibodies to and small molecule inhibitors); and estrogen receptor beta (ERB) agonists, and ERB-NFkb antagonists. Therapeutic agents that can be co-administered and/or co-formulated with at least one anti-IL-22 antibody may include at least one of: a soluble fragment of a TNF receptor (e.g., human p55 or p75) such as 75 kdTNFR-IgG (75 kD TNF receptor-IgG fusion protein, Enbrel™); methotrexate; leflunomide; and sirolimus (rapamycin) and analogs thereof (such as CCI-779).

The anti-IL-22 antibodies disclosed herein can be used in combination with other therapeutic agents to treat specific immune disorders as discussed in further detail below.

Non-limiting examples of agents for treating arthritic disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis), with which an anti-IL-22 antibody can be combined include at least one of the following: TNF antagonists (such as anti-TNF antibodies); soluble fragments of TNF receptors (e.g., human p55 and p75) and derivatives thereof (such as p55 kdTNFR-IgG (55 kD TNF receptor-IgG fusion protein, Lenercept™) and 75 kdTNFR-IgG (75 kD TNF receptor-IgG fusion protein, Enbrel™)); TNF enzyme antagonists (such as TACE inhibitors); antagonists of IL-12 (or one of its subunits p35 or p40), IL-15, IL-17A-F (including heterodimers thereof, for example, IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimer), IL-18, IL-19, IL-20, IL-21, IL-23 (or one of its subunits p19 or p40), and IL-24; T cell and B cell depleting agents (such as anti-CD4, anti-CD20, or anti-CD22 antibodies); small molecule inhibitors (such as methotrexate and leflunomide); sirolimus (rapamycin) and analogs thereof (e.g., CCI-779); Cox-2 and cPLA2 inhibitors; NSAIDs; p38, TPL-2, Mk-2, and NFκB inhibitors; RAGE or soluble RAGE; P-selectin or PSGL-1 inhibitors (such as small molecule inhibitors and antibodies to); estrogen receptor beta (ERB) agonists, and ERB-NFκB antagonists. Therapeutic agents that can be co-administered and/or co-formulated with at least one IL-22/IL-22R/IL-10R2 antagonist may include at least one of: a soluble fragment of a TNF receptor (e.g., human p55 or p75) such as 75 kdTNFR-IgG (75 kD TNF receptor-IgG fusion protein, Enbrel™); methotrexate; leflunomide; and sirolimus (rapamycin) or an analog thereof (e.g., CCI-779).

Non-limiting examples of agents for treating multiple sclerosis with which anti-IL-22 antibody can be combined include interferon-β for example, IFNβ-1a and IFNβ-1b), copaxone, corticosteroids, IL-1 inhibitors, TNF inhibitors, antibodies to CD40 ligand, antibodies to CD80, and IL-12 antagonists, including antibodies that bind IL-12 (or one of its subunits p35 or p40).

Non-limiting examples of agents for treating inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn's disease with which an anti-IL-22 antibody can be combined include budenoside; epidermal growth factor; corticosteroids; cyclosporine; sulfasalazine; aminosalicylates; 6-mercaptopurine; azathioprine; metronidazole; lipoxygenase inhibitors; mesalamine; olsalazine; balsalazide; antioxidants; thromboxane inhibitors; IL-1 receptor antagonists; anti-IL-1 monoclonal antibodies; anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibodies; growth factors; elastase inhibitors; pyridinyl-imidazole compounds; TNF antagonists as described herein; IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, and/or TGFβ or agonists thereof (e.g., agonist antibodies); IL-11; glucuronide- or dextran-conjugated prodrugs of prednisolone, dexamethasone or budesonide; ICAM-1 antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (ISIS 2302; Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.); soluble complement receptor 1 (TP10; T Cell Sciences, Inc.); slow-release mesalazine; methotrexate; antagonists of Platelet Activating Factor (PAF); ciprofloxacin; and lignocaine.

In other embodiments, an anti-IL-22 antibody can be used in combination with at least one antibody directed at other targets involved in regulating immune responses, e.g., transplant rejection or graft versus host disease. Non-limiting examples of agents for treating immune responses with which an IL-22/IL-22R/IL10R2 antagonist of the invention can be combined include the following: antibodies against cell surface molecules, including but not limited to CD25 (IL-2 receptor α), CD11a (LFA-1), CD54 (ICAM-1), CD4, CD45, CD28/CTLA4, CD80 (B7-1), CD86 (B7-2), or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, an anti-IL-22 antibody is used in combination with at least one general immunosuppressive agent, such as cyclosporin A or FK506.

Another aspect of the present invention accordingly relates to kits for carrying out the combined administration of the anti-IL-22 antibodies with other therapeutic agents. In one embodiment, the kit comprises at least one anti-IL-22 antibody formulated in a pharmaceutical carrier, and at least one therapeutic agent, formulated as appropriate in one or more separate pharmaceutical preparations.

VI. Diagnostic Uses

The antibodies may also be used to detect the presence of IL-22 in biological samples. By correlating the presence or level of these proteins with a medical condition, one of skill in the art can diagnose the associated medical condition. For example, IL-22 induces changes associated with those caused by inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1 and TNFα), and inhibitors of IL-22 ameliorate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (WO 2005/000897 A2). Illustrative medical conditions that may be diagnosed by the antibodies of this invention include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and transplant rejection.

Antibody-based detection methods are well known in the art, and include ELISA, radioimmunoassays, immunoblots, Western blots, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and other related techniques. The antibodies may be provided in a diagnostic kit that incorporates at least one of these procedures to detect IL-22. The kit may contain other components, packaging, instructions, or other material to aid the detection of the protein and use of the kit.

Antibodies may be modified with detectable markers, including ligand groups (e.g., biotin), fluorophores and chromophores, radioisotopes, electron-dense reagents, or enzymes. Enzymes are detected by their activity. For example, horseradish peroxidase is detected by its ability to convert tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to a blue pigment, quantifiable with a spectrophotometer. Other suitable binding partners include biotin and avidin, IgG and protein A, and other receptor-ligand pairs known in the art.

Antibodies can also be functionally linked (e.g., by chemical coupling, genetic fusion, non-covalent association or otherwise) to at least one other molecular entity, such as another antibody (e.g., a bispecific or a multispecific antibody), toxins, radioisotopes, cytotoxic or cytostatic agents, among others. Other permutations and possibilities are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and they are considered equivalents within the scope of this invention.

VII. Pharmaceutical Compositions and Methods of Administration

Certain embodiments of the invention include compositions comprising the disclosed antibodies. The compositions may be suitable for pharmaceutical use and administration to patients. The compositions comprise an antibody of the present invention and a pharmaceutical excipient. As used herein, “pharmaceutical excipient” includes solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, etc., that are compatible with pharmaceutical administration. Use of these agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. The compositions may also contain other active compounds providing supplemental, additional, or enhanced therapeutic functions. The pharmaceutical compositions may also be included in a container, pack, or dispenser together with instructions for administration.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention is formulated to be compatible with its intended route of administration. Methods to accomplish the administration are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Pharmaceutical compositions may be topically or orally administered, or capable of transmission across mucous membranes. Examples of administration of a pharmaceutical composition include oral ingestion or inhalation. Administration may also be intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intracavity, subcutaneous, cutaneous, or transdermal.

Solutions or suspensions used for intradermal or subcutaneous application typically include at least one of the following components: a sterile diluent such as water, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycol, glycerine, propylene glycol, or other synthetic solvent; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); buffers such as acetate, citrate, or phosphate; and tonicity agents such as sodium chloride or dextrose. The pH can be adjusted with acids or bases. Such preparations may be enclosed in ampoules, disposable syringes, or multiple dose vials.

Solutions or suspensions used for intravenous administration include a carrier such as physiological saline, bacteriostatic water, Cremophor EL™ (BASF, Parsippany, N.J.), ethanol, or polyol. In all cases, the composition must be sterile and fluid for easy syringability. Proper fluidity can often be obtained using lecithin or surfactants. The composition must also be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage. Prevention of microorganisms can be achieved with antibacterial and antifungal agents, e.g., parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, thimerosal, etc. In many cases, isotonic agents (sugar), polyalcohols (mannitol and sorbitol), or sodium chloride may be included in the composition. Prolonged absorption of the composition can be accomplished by adding an agent which delays absorption, e.g., aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Oral compositions include an inert diluent or edible carrier. The composition can be enclosed in gelatin or compressed into tablets. For the purpose of oral administration, the antibodies can be incorporated with excipients and placed in tablets, troches, or capsules. Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents or adjuvant materials can be included in the composition. The tablets, troches, and capsules, may contain (1) a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; (2) an excipient such as starch or lactose, (3) a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; (4) a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; (5) a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; or (6) a sweetening agent or a flavoring agent.

The composition may also be administered by a transmucosal or transdermal route. For example, antibodies that comprise a Fc portion may be capable of crossing mucous membranes in the intestine, mouth, or lungs (via Fc receptors). Transmucosal administration can be accomplished through the use of lozenges, nasal sprays, inhalers, or suppositories. Transdermal administration can also be accomplished through the use of a composition containing ointments, salves, gels, or creams known in the art. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used. For administration by inhalation, the antibodies are delivered in an aerosol spray from a pressured container or dispenser, which contains a propellant (e.g., liquid or gas) or a nebulizer.

In certain embodiments, the antibodies of this invention are prepared with carriers to protect the antibodies against rapid elimination from the body. Biodegradable polymers (e.g., ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, polylactic acid) are often used. Methods for the preparation of such formulations are known by those skilled in the art. Liposomal suspensions can be used as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers too. The liposomes can be prepared according to established methods known in the art (U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,811).

The antibodies or antibody compositions of the invention are administered in therapeutically effective amounts as described. Therapeutically effective amounts may vary with the subject's age, condition, sex, and severity of medical condition. Appropriate dosage may be determined by a physician based on clinical indications. The antibodies or compositions may be given as a bolus dose to maximize the circulating levels of antibodies for the greatest length of time. Continuous infusion may also be used after the bolus dose.

As used herein, the term “subject” is intended to include human and non-human animals. Subjects may include a human patient having a disorder characterized by cells that express IL-22, e.g., a cancer cell or an immune cell. The term “non-human animals” of the invention includes all vertebrates, such as non-human primates, sheep, dogs, cows, chickens, amphibians, reptiles, etc.

Examples of dosage ranges that can be administered to a subject can be chosen from: 1 μg/kg to 20 mg/kg, 1 μg/kg to 10 mg/kg, 1 μg/kg to 1 mg/kg, 10 μg/kg to 1 mg/kg, 10 μg/kg to 100 μg/kg, 100 μg/kg to 1 mg/kg, 250 μg/kg to 2 mg/kg, 250 μg/kg to 1 mg/kg, 500 μg/kg to 2 mg/kg, 500 μg/kg to 1 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg to 25 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg to 25 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg to 25 mg/kg, and 20 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg (or higher). These dosages may be administered daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly, or less frequently, for example, biannually, depending on dosage, method of administration, disorder or symptom(s) to be treated, and individual subject characteristics. Dosages can also be administered via continuous infusion (such as through a pump). The administered dose may also depend on the route of administration. For example, subcutaneous administration may require a higher dosage than intravenous administration.

In certain circumstances, it may be advantageous to formulate compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited for the patient. Each dosage unit contains a predetermined quantity of antibody calculated to produce a therapeutic effect in association with the carrier. The dosage unit depends on the characteristics of the antibodies and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved.

Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of the composition can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., determining the LD₅₀ (the dose lethal to 50% of the population) and the ED₅₀ (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population). The dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index and it can be expressed as the ratio LD₅₀/ED₅₀. Antibodies that exhibit large therapeutic indices may be less toxic and/or more therapeutically effective.

The data obtained from the cell culture assays and animal studies can be used to formulate a dosage range in humans. The dosage of these compounds may lie within the range of circulating antibody concentrations in the blood, that includes an ED₅₀ with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage composition form employed and the route of administration. For any antibody used in the present invention, the therapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially using cell culture assays. A dose may be formulated in animal models to achieve a circulating plasma concentration range that includes the IC₅₀ (i.e., the concentration of antibody which achieves a half-maximal inhibition of symptoms). The effects of any particular dosage can be monitored by a suitable bioassay. Examples of suitable bioassays include DNA replication assays, transcription-based assays, IL-22/IL-22R binding assays, IL-22/IL-10R2 binding assays, IL-22/IL-22R/IL-10R2, and other immunological assays.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Selection of Anti-IL-22 scFv's

Selection of Parents GIL01 and GIL68

GIL01 and GIL68 were isolated from scFv libraries by soluble selection on IL-22. Soluble selections were carried out using biotinylated IL-22 with an N-terminal His/FLAG tagged protein (bio.IL-22 H/F). Bio.IL-22 H/F was initially used at a concentration of 100 nM. An scFv phagemid library, which is an expanded version of the 1.38×10¹⁰ library described (Vaughan et al., 1996), was used to select antibodies specific for IL-22. Purified scFv phage (10¹² transducing units (tu)) were blocked for 30 minutes in 100 μl 3% MPBS (3% milk powder in PBS), then bio.IL-22 H/F was added and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. Phage/antigen was added to 50 μl of Dynal M280 Streptavidin magnetic beads, which had been blocked for 1 hour at 37° C. in 1 ml of 3% MPBS, then incubated for a further 15 minutes at room temperature. Beads were captured using a magnetic rack and washed 4× in 1 ml of 3% MPBS/0.1% (v/v) Tween 20 followed by three washes in PBS. After the last wash, beads were resuspended in 100 μl PBS and used to infect 5 ml exponentially growing E. coli TG-1 cells. Cells and phage on beads were incubated for 1 hour at 37° C. (30 minutes stationary, 30 minutes shaking at 250 rpm), then spread on 2TYAG plates. Plates were incubated at 30° C. overnight and colonies visualized the next day. Colonies were scraped off the plates into 10 ml 2TY broth and 15% glycerol added for storage at −70° C.

Glycerol stock cultures from the first round panning selection were superinfected with helper phage and rescued to give scFv antibody-expressing phage particles for the second round of selection. A second and third round of soluble selection was carried out as described above, dropping the concentration of bio.IL-22 H/F to 50 nM.

Isolation of Parents GIL16, GIL45, GIL60 and GIL92

GIL16, GIL45, GIL60 and GIL92 were isolated from scFv libraries by a combination of panning on an IL-22 fusion protein and soluble selection on bio.IL-22 H/F. Wells of a microtiter plate were coated with 10 μg/ml (Dulbecco's PBS, pH 7.4) human IL-22 fusion protein and incubated overnight at 4° C. Wells were washed in PBS and blocked for 2 hours at 37° C. in 3% MPBS. Purified phage (10¹² tu) in 100 μl of 3% MPBS were added to blocked wells and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. Wells were washed 10 times with PBST (PBS containing 0.1% v/v Tween20), then 10 times with PBS. Bound phage particles were eluted with 100 μl trypsin solution (0.5 μg/ml trypsin in 50 mM Tris pH 8, 1 mM CaCl₂) for 30 minutes at 37° C. The eluted phage were used to infect 10 ml exponentially growing E. coli TG1. Infected cells were grown in 2TY broth for 1 hour at 37° C., as above, then streaked onto 2TYAG plates and incubated overnight at 30° C. Output colonies were scraped off the plates and phage rescued as described above. A second round of soluble selection was carried out as described above, using 100 nM bio.IL-22 H/F.

Example 2 ScFv Blocks Binding of IL-22 to IL-22R

Inhibition assays were performed on the parent antibodies GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, and GIL92 to identify antibodies that block or alter binding of IL-22 to IL-22R and/or IL-22 receptor complex. Crude scFv containing periplasmic extracts were screened for the ability to inhibit the binding of bio.IL-22 H/F to a human IL-22 receptor protein (hIL-22R). Output colonies from selections were picked into 96 well plates containing 100 μl 2TYAG. ScFv production was induced by addition of 1 mM IPTG to exponentially growing cultures and overnight incubation at 30° C. Periplasmic extracts were prepared (Griffiths et al., 1993) in 50 mM MOPS pH 7.4/0.5 mM EDTA/0.5M Sorbitol.

Microtiter plates were coated with 1.25 μg/ml of an IL-22 receptor protein antibody (in PBS) for 1.5 hours at room temperature. Plates were then washed three times in PBS, and blocked for 1 hour at room temperature with PBS containing 2% milk powder (2% MPBS). After a further 3 washes, 50 μl of 25% cell conditioned medium containing IL-22 receptor protein was added to each well, and incubated overnight at 4° C. The following day, 25 μl of sample and 25 μl of bio.IL-22 H/F (54 ng/ml in PBS/0.05% BSA/0.05% Tween) were added to the washed plates, and incubated for 1.5 hours at room temperature. After 3 washes in PBST, binding of bio.IL-22 H/F was detected with Europium-Streptavidin and TRF detected with the DELFIA® reagent kit and Victor 2™ Plate Reader (Perkin Elmer).

Clones that showed inhibition of IL-22 binding were retested as purified scFv. Both the IL-22/IL-22R binding assay (described above) and the IL-22/IL-22 receptor complex assay (described below) were used. ScFv concentrations were titrated in order to establish the clone potencies as measured by assay IC₅₀ values. These were determined using GraphPad Prism software and four-parameter logistic equation curve fitting. Sample results from the IL-22 receptor complex assay are shown in FIG. 1.

Example 3 Verification of IL-22 Binding by Phage ELISA

To establish the specificity of the scFv's for IL-22, a phage ELISA was performed using IL-22 fusion protein, IL-22 H/F and an unrelated protein. Individual E. coli colonies containing phagemid were inoculated into 96 well plates containing 100 μl 2TYAG medium per well. M13K07 helper phage were added to a multiplicity of infection (moi) of 10 to the exponentially growing culture and the plates incubated an additional 1 hour at 37° C. Plates were centrifuged in a benchtop centrifuge at 2000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant was removed and cell pellets were resuspended in 100 μl 2TYAK and incubated at 30° C. overnight with shaking. The next day, plates were centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 10 minutes and 100 μl phage-containing supernatant from each well was transferred to a fresh 96 well plate. Phage samples were blocked in a final concentration of 3% MPBS for 1 hour at room temperature.

Microtiter plates were coated with 1 μg/ml IL-22 fusion protein, IL-22 H/F or an unrelated protein and incubated overnight at 4° C. After coating, the solutions were removed from the wells, and the plates blocked for 1 hour at room temperature in 3% MPBS. Plates were rinsed with PBS then 50 μl of pre-blocked phage was added to each well. The plates were incubated at room temperature for 1 hour, then washed with 3 changes of PBST followed by 3 changes of PBS. To each well, 50 μl of a 1:5000 dilution of anti-M13-HRP conjugate (Pharmacia) was added and the plates incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. Plates were washed 3 times with PBST then 3 times with PBS. Fifty μl of TMB substrate was added to each well and incubated until color development. The reaction was stopped by the addition of 25 μl of 0.5 M H₂SO₄, and the absorbance at 450 nm measured. These experiments confirmed the specific binding of scFv clones to IL-22.

Example 4 Conversion of scF_(v) to IgG

Heavy and light chain V regions from scFv clones were amplified with clone-specific primers. PCR products were digested with appropriate restriction enzymes and subcloned into vectors containing human IgG4 heavy chain constant domain (for V_(H) domains) or vectors containing human lambda or kappa light chain constant domains as appropriate (V_(L) domains). The closest human germlines of the V_(H) and V_(L) segments were determined and this information was used to indicate whether kappa or lambda light chain constant domains were used (Table 4). Correct insertion of V region domains into plasmids was verified by sequencing of plasmid DNA from individual E. coli colonies. Plasmids were prepared from E. coli cultures by standard techniques and heavy and light chain constructs co-transfected into HEK 293 EBNA cells using standard techniques. Secreted IgG was purified using protein A sepharose (Pharmacia) and buffer exchanged into PBS.

TABLE 4 V_(H) and V_(L) germlines of IL-22 neutralizing clones Clone V_(H) germline V_(L) germline GIL01 3-11 (DP35) Vk1:L12 GIL16 1-18 (DP14) Vk1:L12 GIL45 3-33 (DP50) VL2:2a2 (DPL11) GIL60 3-20 (DP32) VL2:2a2 (DPL11) GIL68 1-2 (DP8) VL3:3h GIL92 1-2 (DP8) VL1:1e (DPL8)

Potency of purified IgG was verified in the biochemical IL-22 receptor complex inhibition assay as described below. IgG concentrations were titrated in order to obtain potency values. Sample potency data is shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Potency of IL-22 scFv and IgG in the IL-22 receptor complex inhibition assay Clone ScFv potency (nM) IgG potency (nM) GIL01 104 13 GIL16 49 10 GIL60 43 15 GIL68 7 2 GIL92 16 unobtainable GIL45 358 180

Example 5 IL-22 Antibody Optimization

Large ribosome display libraries were created and screened for scFv's that specifically recognized recombinant human IL-22, essentially as described in Hanes et al. (2000). Initially the five parent clones (GIL01, GIL16, GIL60, GIL68 and GIL92) were converted to ribosome display format, and this template was subsequently used for library creation. On the DNA level, a T7 promoter was added at the 5′-end for efficient transcription to mRNA. On the mRNA level, the construct contained a prokaryotic ribosome-binding site (Shine-Dalgarno sequence) and 5′ & 3′ stem loops for mRNA stability. At the 3′ end of the single chain, the stop codon was removed and a portion of gill was added to act as a spacer, allowing folding of the scFv away from the ribosomal tunnel (Hanes et al. 2000).

Ribosome display libraries derived from the lead clones were created by mutagenesis of the single chain complementarity determining regions (CDRs) using PCR with non-proofreading Taq DNA polymerase. Affinity based selections were performed where the library was incubated with bio.IL-22H/F, followed by streptavidin coated paramagnetic beads. (Dynal M280). Tertiary complexes (mRNA-ribosome-scFv) were recovered by magnetic separation, while unbound complexes were washed away. The mRNAs encoding the bound scFvs were then rescued by RT-PCR as described (Hanes et al., 2000) and the selection process repeated with decreasing concentrations (100 nM-10 pM over 5 rounds) of bio.IL-22H/F.

Error prone PCR was introduced to further increase library size. The error rate that was employed created, on average, 7.2 mutations per 1,000 bp after a standard PCR reaction based on the method of Cadwell and Joyce (1992). Initial error prone PCR reactions took place between the first and second rounds of selection.

V_(H)/V_(L) recombination libraries for each parent clone were prepared from the V_(H) and V_(L) CDR ribosome display outputs after either the second or fourth round of selections. The V_(H) portion of the V_(H) CDR selection output for a particular lineage was specifically PCR amplified, using clone specific primers. The V_(L) portion of the V_(L) CDR selection output for the same lineage was amplified separately. These two PCR products were recombined via an overlapping PCR reaction. This created a complete library of scFv products containing all components required for further rounds of ribosome display selection.

For some clones, phage display libraries were also utilized. Phage libraries were created by mutagenesis of single chain CDRs using PCR reactions with appropriate primers, and selected as described above. These outputs were also combined with ribosome display selection outputs to create V_(H)N_(L) recombination libraries. The V_(H) selection outputs from the fourth round of ribosome display, together with the outputs from the third round of phage display, were recombined with the V_(L) outputs from the same lineage. This was achieved using clone specific primers and over-lapping PCR to produce V_(H)/V_(L) recombination libraries. Selections with soluble bio.IL-22 H/F continued in ribosome display format, as described above. The scFv regions of selection outputs were directionally cloned into pCANTAB6 for production of scFv for biochemical high throughput screening.

Example 6 Identification of Optimized Clones

Two assays were used for high throughput screening of selection outputs. Outputs derived from clones GIL01, GIL16 and GIL68 were screened in a homogeneous time resolved fluorescence assay (HTRF®, Cis Biointernational), while GIL60 and GIL92 outputs were screened in a DELFIA® (Perkin Elmer) assay.

HTRF® Epitope Competition Assay

Crude scFv containing culture supernatants from GIL01, GIL16 and GIL68 output clones were prepared as described above and screened for inhibition of bio.IL-22H/F binding GIL68 in an HTRF assay.

Cryptate labeled GIL68 IgG (labeling kit from Cis Biointernational) was diluted 400 fold in assay buffer (PBS/0.4M KF/0.05% BSA/0.05% Tween), followed by the addition of 7.5 nM Streptavidin XL665 (Xlent, C is Biointernational). This solution was mixed with crude scFv sample (diluted 125×), and bio.IL-22H/F in a Packard black 384 well Optiplate (Perkin Elmer). Plates were incubated for 1 hour at room temperature then read using a Victor 2™ Plate Reader (Perkin Elmer). The 665 nM/620 nM emission ratio was used to calculate the percentage of specific binding in each well.

DELFIA® Time Resolved Fluorescence assay

GIL60 and GIL92 output clones were screened for inhibition of bio.IL-22H/F binding to an IL-22 receptor complex.

Microtiter plates were coated with IL-22 receptor complex antibody (1 μg/ml in PBS), and incubated for 1.5 hours at room temperature. Plates were washed three times in PBST, and blocked for 1 hour at room temperature with 2% MPBS. After a further 3 washes, diluted cell conditioned medium containing an IL-22 receptor complex was added and incubated overnight at 4° C. Crude scFv supernatants were prepared as described above. The following day, 25 μl of diluted scFv sample and 25 μl of bio.IL-22 H/F (6 ng/ml) were added to the washed plates, and incubated for 1.5 hours at room temperature. Plates were washed 3 times in PBST, then binding of bio.IL-22H/F to the IL-22 receptor complex was detected with Europium-Streptavidin and the DELFIA® reagent kit (PerkinElmer). Time Resolved Fluorescence was measured using a Victor 2™ Plate Reader (Perkin Elmer).

Purified scFv from positive clones identified from the screening were tested in the DELFIA® IL-22 receptor complex competition assay as described above. A titration of scFv concentrations was used in order to establish the clone potency as measured by IC₅₀ values in the assay. Sample results are shown in FIG. 2. Fourteen optimized clones were designated 097D09, 062A09, 062G05, 087B03, 367D04, 368D04, 166B06, 166G05, 375G06, 376B10, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, and 356A11.

Example 7 Ranking of Optimized Clones in the BAF3-IL-22 Proliferation Assay

Proliferation assays were performed to assess the antibody's ability to block the IL-22 mediated BaF3 cell proliferation. BaF3 cells expressing hIL22R/hIL10R2 were generated by co-transfection of BaF3 cells with hIL22R-GFP and hIL10R2-YFP. BaF3 cells expressing both hIL22R and hIL10R2 (BaF3-IL-22 receptor cells) were sorted and collected by FACS.

BaF3-IL-22 receptor cells were routinely maintained in RPMI1640 with 10% FBS and 1 ng/mL murine IL-J. Immediately before assay setup, cells were washed 4 times in assay medium (RPMI1640 with 10% FBS, 100 U/ml Penicillin and 100 μg/ml Streptomycin), resuspended in assay medium and incubated at 37° C., 5% CO₂ for 6-8 hours. To prepare assay plates, 100 μl of cells (1×10⁵/ml in assay medium) were added to the central 60 wells of a 96 well flat-bottomed tissue culture plate (Costar). Test scFv or IgG samples were prepared by diluting the stock sample in assay medium followed by filtration through a 0.22 μM filter. Serial 5-fold dilutions of samples were prepared in a separate dilution plate. Cell containing wells were treated with 50 μl of sample followed by 50 μl of human IL-22, (40 ng/ml in assay medium), and were then incubated for 40 hours at 37° C. in 5% CO₂. Control wells included media alone and cells either alone or in the presence of 10 ng/mL human IL-22.

Cell proliferation was detected by the addition of 20 μl of Alamar Blue (Serotec) to wells, followed by incubation for 5 hours±30 mins at 37° C. in 5% CO₂. Plates were mixed by gentle tapping to ensure even signal throughout the wells before measurement of fluorescence (excitation=560 nM, emission=590 nM). EC₅₀ and IC₅₀ values were estimated using four-parameter logistic curve fitting (Graphpad Prism 2 Software) and were used to rank antibodies. Sample potency data for optimized scFvs and IgGs are shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 IC₅₀ values of scFv and IgG clones in BaF3-IL-22 proliferation assay Clone Parent IC₅₀ of scFv (pM) IC₅₀ of IgG (pM) 097D09 GIL01  298 ± 246 197 ± 42  062A09 GIL16 267 83 ± 37 062G05 GIL16 182 112 ± 30  087B03 GIL60 212 105 ± 17  367D04 GIL60 160 ± 49 126 ± 6  368D04 GIL60 186 ± 66 127 ± 10  166B06 GIL68 460 71 ± 23 166G05 GIL68 204 97 ± 23 375G06 GIL68 118 ± 98 100 ± 1  376B10 GIL68 104 ± 47 119 ± 6  354A08 GIL92 219 ± 83  79 ± 15* 355B06 GIL92 183 ± 3   92 ± 14* 355E04 GIL92 192 ± 47 100 ± 14* 356A11 GIL92 124 ± 21 53 ± 5* *GIL92-derived clones were tested as germlined IgGs.

Example 8 Germlining

Sequence data for the six parent clones was used to identify the nearest germline sequence for the heavy and light chain of each clone. Appropriate mutations were made using standard site directed mutagenesis techniques with the appropriate mutagenic primers. Mutation of sequences was confirmed by sequence analysis. The sequences for the germlined clones and their scFv and V_(H) and V_(L) domains are shown in Table 7. Purified scFv from the germlined parent clones were tested in the biotinylated IL-22 binding IL-22 receptor complex competition assay as described earlier, in order to establish the clone potency as measured by IC₅₀ values in the assay. Results are summarized in Table 8.

TABLE 7 Amino Acid and Nucleotide Sequences of V_(H) and V_(L) Domains, F_(v), and CDRs of Germlined Antibodies (GIL01, GIL16, GIL45, GIL60, GIL68, GIL92, 062A09, and 087B03) GIL01 GIL16 GIL45 GIL60 GIL68 GIL92 062A09 087B03 Region Type SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID V_(H) AA NO: 365 NO: 383 NO: 401 NO: 419 NO: 437 NO: 455 NO: 473 NO: 491 V_(L) AA NO: 366 NO: 384 NO: 402 NO: 420 NO: 438 NO: 456 NO: 474 NO: 492 scF_(v) AA NO: 367 NO: 385 NO: 403 NO: 421 NO: 439 NO: 457 NO: 475 NO: 493 H1 AA NO: 368 NO: 386 NO: 404 NO: 422 NO: 440 NO: 458 NO: 476 NO: 494 H2 AA NO: 369 NO: 387 NO: 405 NO: 423 NO: 441 NO: 459 NO: 477 NO: 495 H3 AA NO: 370 NO: 388 NO: 406 NO: 424 NO: 442 NO: 460 NO: 478 NO: 496 L1 AA NO: 371 NO: 389 NO: 407 NO: 425 NO: 443 NO: 461 NO: 479 NO: 497 L2 AA NO: 372 NO: 390 NO: 408 NO: 426 NO: 444 NO: 462 NO: 480 NO: 498 L3 AA NO: 373 NO: 391 NO: 409 NO: 427 NO: 445 NO: 463 NO: 481 NO: 499 V_(H) DNA NO: 374 NO: 392 NO: 410 NO: 428 NO: 446 NO: 464 NO: 482 NO: 500 V_(L) DNA NO: 375 NO: 393 NO: 411 NO: 429 NO: 447 NO: 465 NO: 483 NO: 501 scF_(v) DNA NO: 376 NO: 394 NO: 412 NO: 430 NO: 448 NO: 466 NO: 484 NO: 502 H1 DNA NO: 377 NO: 395 NO: 413 NO: 431 NO: 449 NO: 467 NO: 485 NO: 503 H2 DNA NO: 378 NO: 396 NO: 414 NO: 432 NO: 450 NO: 468 NO: 486 NO: 504 H3 DNA NO: 379 NO: 397 NO: 415 NO: 433 NO: 451 NO: 469 NO: 487 NO: 505 L1 DNA NO: 380 NO: 398 NO: 416 NO: 434 NO: 452 NO: 470 NO: 488 NO: 506 L2 DNA NO: 381 NO: 399 NO: 417 NO: 435 NO: 453 NO: 471 NO: 489 NO: 507 L3 DNA NO: 382 NO: 400 NO: 418 NO: 436 NO: 454 NO: 472 NO: 490 NO: 508 Amino Acid and Nucleotide Sequences of V_(H) and V_(L) Domains, F_(v), and CDRs of Germlined Antibodies (166B06, 166G05, 354A08, 355B06, 355E04, 356A11, and 368D04) 166B06 166G05 354A08 355E06 355E04 SEQ 356A11 SEQ Region Type SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID ID ID 368D04 SEQ ID V_(H) AA NO: 509 NO: 527 NO: 545 NO: 563 NO: 581 NO: 599 NO: 617 V_(L) AA NO: 510 NO: 528 NO: 546 NO: 564 NO: 582 NO: 600 NO: 618 scF_(v) AA NO: 511 NO: 529 NO: 547 NO: 565 NO: 583 NO: 601 NO: 619 H1 AA NO: 512 NO: 530 NO: 548 NO: 566 NO: 584 NO: 602 NO: 620 H2 AA NO: 513 NO: 531 NO: 549 NO: 567 NO: 585 NO: 603 NO: 621 H3 AA NO: 514 NO: 532 NO: 550 NO: 568 NO: 586 NO: 604 NO: 622 L1 AA NO: 515 NO: 533 NO: 551 NO: 569 NO: 587 NO: 605 NO: 623 L2 AA NO: 516 NO: 534 NO: 552 NO: 570 NO: 588 NO: 606 NO: 624 L3 AA NO: 517 NO: 535 NO: 553 NO: 571 NO: 589 NO: 607 NO: 625 V_(H) DNA NO: 518 NO: 536 NO: 554 NO: 572 NO: 590 NO: 608 NO: 626 V_(L) DNA NO: 519 NO: 537 NO: 555 NO: 573 NO: 591 NO: 609 NO: 627 scF_(v) DNA NO: 520 NO: 538 NO: 556 NO: 574 NO: 592 NO: 610 NO: 628 H1 DNA NO: 521 NO: 539 NO: 557 NO: 575 NO: 593 NO: 611 NO: 629 H2 DNA NO: 522 NO: 540 NO: 558 NO: 576 NO: 594 NO: 612 NO: 630 H3 DNA NO: 523 NO: 541 NO: 559 NO: 577 NO: 595 NO: 613 NO: 631 L1 DNA NO: 524 NO: 542 NO: 560 NO: 578 NO: 596 NO: 614 NO: 632 L2 DNA NO: 525 NO: 543 NO: 561 NO: 579 NO: 597 NO: 615 NO: 633 L3 DNA NO: 526 NO: 544 NO: 562 NO: 580 NO: 598 NO: 616 NO: 634

TABLE 8 ScFv potencies of ungermlined and germlined parent clones in the IL-22 receptor competition assay Average IC₅₀ nM in Parent IL-22 competition clone assay scFv Parent Fully germlined GIL01 124 ± 50 143 ± 45 GIL16 44 ± 1 38 ± 1 GIL60  51 ± 16 82 ± 3 GIL68  9 ± 1 14 + 1 GIL92 18 ± 2  40 ± 11

Nine of the optimized antibodies were germlined as described above. Eight germlined IgGs were tested in the BaF3-IL-22 proliferation assay as described above. Antibody IC₅₀ values from a representative experiment are shown in Table 9.

Antibody sequences were then sent to GENEART North America (28 Kirk Bradden Rd. East, Toronto, ON, Canada M8Y2E6), where they were synthesized for optimized expression in CHO cells using GENEART's proprietary optimization algorithm.

TABLE 9 IgG potencies of germlined optimized clones in the BaF3-IL-22R proliferation assay IC₅₀ (pM) of non- IC₅₀ (pM) of Clone Parent germlined IgG germlined IgG 087B03 GIL60 72 ± 6 118 ± 19 166B06 GIL68 109 ± 16 169 ± 32 166G05 GIL68  366 ± 226* 109 ± 31 356A11 GIL92 ND 53 ± 5 355B06 GIL92 ND  92 ± 14 355E04 GIL92 ND 100 ± 14 354A08 GIL92 ND  79 ± 15 062A09 GIL16 108 ± 23 unobtainable *sample contained precipitate ND = not determined

Example 9 Antibody Inhibits IL-22 Induced GROa Secretion from HT29 Cells

GROa assays were performed to assess the antibody's ability to block the IL-22 induced GROa secretion from HT29 cells. HT29 cells were seeded in 96 well flat bottom tissue culture plate (Corning Inc. Cat. #3595) in DMEM medium (DMEM+10% FBS+100 unit/ml penicillin and streptomycin+2 mM Glutamine) at 5×10⁴/well. 10 ng/ml IL-22 was mixed with serially diluted antibody in DMEM medium and incubated for 30 min at 37° C. 24 hours after seeding, medium was removed from HT29 cells and pre-mixed IL-22 and antibody were added to the cells in 96 well plate.

After 48 hours of incubation at 37° C. with 5% CO₂, medium was collected and secreted GROa was tested using Human GROa Immunoassay kit (R&D Systems, Cat. DGR00), according to the manufacturer's directions. Results are presented in FIG. 3.

Example 10 Antibody Binds to and Inhibits Different Species IL-22

Cross species reactivity of germlined and non-germlined optimized antibodies were determined as follows: ELISA plates (Costar, Cat. #3590) were coated overnight with 1 μg/ml of rat, mouse, or human IL-22 or human IL-26 in PBS buffer. Plates were washed with PBST buffer (0.05% Tween20 in PBS) 3 times, then blocked with 1% BSA (Sigma A8918)/PBST for 1 hr at RT. Antibodies were added at 1 μg/ml, incubated 1 hr at 25° C. The plates were washed, then HRP-conjugated goat anti-human IgG antibody (Southern Biotech Association, Cat. #2040-05) was added. The plates were incubated for 1 hour at 25° C., then washed with PBST, and developed with TMB (KPL, Cat. #50-76-04). Reaction was stopped with 0.18 M H₂SO₄. Plates were read at OD 450 nm. Results are presented in FIG. 4.

These antibodies were also evaluated in both the GROa cell assay and BaF3-IL-22 proliferation assay. As shown in Tables 10(a) and 10(b), the antibodies blocked the activity of human, monkey, rat, and mouse IL-22 signalling via a human IL-22 receptor. 356A11 and 368D04 also demonstrated cross-species reactivity against murine, rat, and monkey IL-22 using real-time biospecific interaction analysis (BIA), as discussed further in Example 11.

TABLE 10(a) IL-22 antibodies are highly potent for blocking other species of IL-22 as shown in the GROa cell based assay system. Values shown represent IC₅₀ values in pM. human murine monkey Protein ID IL-22 IL-22 rat IL-22 IL-22 356A11 123.64 143.76 210.91 89.57 368D04 154.07 156.25 281.12 184.10 control 1 353.18 468.34 1161.57 343.19 control 2 1955.80 3399.79 10697.17 1459.27

TABLE 10(b) IL-22 antibodies are highly potent for blocking other species of IL-22 as shown in the BaF3 cell based assay system. Values shown represent IC₅₀ values in pM. human murine monkey Protein ID IL-22 IL-22 rat IL-22 IL-22 356A11 3.57 2.53 10.69 2.58 368D04 3.63 1.47 12.07 3.87 control 1 6.40 5~6 27.37 7.18 control 2 204.98 1033.26 2500.00 134.27

Example 11 Comparison of Binding Kinetics Between Rat Anti-IL-22 Monoclonal Antibodies and Human Anti-IL-22 Monoclonal Antibodies

The binding kinetics of human, monoclonal anti-IL-22 antibodies (356A11 and 368D04) and rat, monoclonal anti-IL-22 antibodies (P3/3 (Ab-02) and P3/2 (Ab-04) from WO 2005/000897 and WO 02/068476) to human IL-22 were evaluated by real-time biospecific interaction analysis (BIA) using surface plasmon resonance technology.

To prepare the biosensor surface for the rat monoclonal antibodies, Protein A/G (Pierce #21186, Rockford, Ill.) was immobilized onto a research-grade carboxymethyl dextran chip (CM5) using amine coupling. The surface was activated with EDC/NHS. The protein A/G was injected at a concentration of 50 μg/ml in sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.0). The immobilization was done using the wizard tools with aim of 3000 (RUs) for the protein A/G. Remaining activated groups were blocked with 1.0 M ethanolamine (pH 8.0). The first flow cell was used as a reference surface to correct for bulk refractive index, matrix effects, and non-specific binding. The second, third, and fourth flow cells were coated with the capturing molecule. The rat monoclonal antibodies Ab-02 and Ab-04, which bind to protein A/G, were captured onto the protein A/G surface by injecting 30 μl of a 1 μg/ml solution. The net difference between the baseline and the point approximately 90 seconds after completing Ab-02 or Ab-04 injection was used to represent the amount of ligand bound.

To prepare the biosensor surface for the human monoclonal antibodies, either human monoclonal antibody (356A11 or 368D04) or control antibody were immobilized onto a research-grade carboxymethyl dextran chip (CM5) using standard amine coupling. The surface was activated with EDC/NHS. The capturing antibodies were injected at a concentration of 1 μg/ml in sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.5). Remaining activated groups were blocked with 1.0 M ethanolamine (pH 8.0). The first flow cell was used as a reference surface to correct for bulk refractive index, matrix effects, and non-specific binding. The second, third, and fourth flow cells were coated with the capturing molecule.

For Ab-02 and Ab-04, solutions of human IL-22 at 300, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.4, 3.2, 1.6 and 0 nM concentrations were injected in triplicates at a flow rate of 30 μl per minute for 3 minutes and the amount of bound material as a function of time was recorded as sensorgrams. The dissociation phase was monitored in HBS/EP buffer for 10 minutes at the same flow rate followed by a 5 μl injection of 0.1% TFA and a 5 μl injection of glycine pH 1.5 to regenerate a fully active capturing surface.

For 356A11 and 368D04, solutions of human IL-22 at 400, 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 0 nM were injected in triplicates at a flow rate of 100 μl per minute (high flow to avoid non specific binding) for 3 minutes, and the amount of bound material as a function of time was recorded as sensorgrams. The dissociation phase was monitored in HBS/EP buffer for 60 minutes at the same flow rate followed by two 5 μl injections of glycine pH 1.5 to regenerate a fully active capturing surface.

All kinetic experiments were done at 22.5° C. in HBS/EP buffer. Blank and buffer effects were subtracted for each sensorgram using double referencing. In control experiments the first injection contained buffer.

The kinetic data were analyzed using BIAevaluation software 3.0.2 applied to a 1:1 model. The apparent dissociation (K_(d)) and association (K_(a)) rate constants were calculated from the appropriate regions of the sensorgrams using a global analysis. The affinity constants of the interaction between antibody and analyte were calculated from the kinetic rate constants by the following formulae: K_(D)=K_(d)/K_(a), where K_(D) is the dissociation constant, and K_(A)=K_(a)/K_(d), where K_(A) is the association constant. The binding data for Ab-02 and AB-04 are summarized in Tables 11A and 11B. The binding data for 356A11 and 368D04 are summarized in Table 12.

TABLE 11A Kinetic parameters for the interaction between human IL-22 and anti-IL-22 antibodies Ab-02 and Ab-04 Ab-02 Ab-02 Ab-04 Ab-04 k_(a) (M⁻¹s⁻¹) k_(d) (s⁻¹) k_(a) (M⁻¹s⁻¹) k_(d) (s⁻¹) Protein A/G 2.78E+05 1.45E−03 5.15E+05 1.23E−03

TABLE 11B Kinetic data of rat monoclonal antibodies for human IL-22 Antibody Ka (1/Ms) Kd (1/s) KA (1/M) KD (M) Chi2 Ab-02 2.78E+05 1.45E−03 1.92E+08 5.22E−08 0.49 Ab-04 5.15E+05 1.23E−03 4.22E+08 2.38E−09 0.53

TABLE 12 Kinetic data of human monoclonal antibodies for human IL-22 Antibody Ka (1/Ms) Kd (1/s) KA (1/M) KD (M) Chi2 356A11 7.91E+04 4.27E−06 1.85E+10 5.40E−11 0.223 368D04 1.89E+05 2.50E−05 7.56E+09 1.32E−10 0.298

These results show that the human monoclonal anti-IL-22 antibodies of this invention have a significantly higher affinity for human IL-22 than the rat monoclonal anti-IL-22 antibodies Ab-02 and Ab-04, described in WO 2005/000897 and WO 02/068476 as having the ability to neutralize human IL-22. Specifically, the dissociation constant of 356A11 (K_(D)=5.40×10⁻¹¹ M or 0.054 nM) for human IL-22 is approximately 1000-fold and more than 40-fold greater than the dissociation constants of Ab-02 (K_(D)=5.22×10⁻⁸M or 52 nM) and Ab-04 (K_(D)=2.38×10⁻⁹M or 2.38 nM), respectively. Similarly, 368D04 (K_(D)=1.32×10⁻¹⁰ M or 0.132 nM) has an approximately 400-fold and 18-fold stronger affinity for human IL-22 than Ab-02 and Ab-04, respectively. The binding profiles of 356A11 and 36804 for monkey, murine, and rat IL-22 were similar to that of human IL-22 (data not shown).

The binding specificities of 356A11 and 368D04 were also evaluated using BIA. Neither antibody showed cross reactivity with human IL-10, human IL-19, human IL-20, human IL-24, human IL-28A, human IL-29, human IFN-α2c, or human IFN-ω (data not shown).

Example 12 In Vivo Half Life of Anti-Human IL-22 Antibodies

The anti human IL-22 antibodies of the invention have long in vivo half lives. For example, the in vivo half life of both 356A11 and 368D04 in DBA/1 mice was eight days. Specifically, a single dose of either 356A11 or 368D04 (16 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to DBA/1 mice. The 356A11 and 368D04 antibodies were detected in serum from the mice using a human IgG1 ELISA. The time courses of 356A11 and 368D04 serum concentrations are shown in FIGS. 11A and B. The PK parameters of 356A11 and 368D04 are summarized in the Table 13 below.

TABLE 13 PK Parameters of 3536A11 and 368D04 PK Parameter 356A11 368D04 AUC (ng · hr/mL) 57273471 54052982 Cmax (ng/mL) 169854 177161 Tmax (hr) 48 24 t½ (hr) 192 206 t½ (days) 8 8.6

Example 13 Treatment of Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease characterized by inflammation in the joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most frequent form of arthritis, involving inflammation of connective tissue and the synovial membrane, a membrane that lines the joint. The inflamed synovial membrane often infiltrates the joint and damages joint cartilage and bone. Both IL-22 and IL-22R protein and/or transcript are associated with human disease. In RA synovial biopsies, IL-22 protein is detected in vimentin⁺ synovial fibroblasts and some CD68⁺ macrophages while IL-22R is detected in synovial fibroblasts. Treatment of synovial fibroblasts with IL-22 induces the production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MCP-1, as well as general metabolic activity (Ikeuchi, H. et al. (2005) Arthritis Rheum. 52:1037-46).

IL-22 is used to study its effect on cells from the synovial membrane, the membrane that lines the joints. Human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (HFLS) (Cell Applications (San Diego, Calif.)) are isolated from synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing joint surgery. HFLS are cultured with human IL-22 for 48 hours, and the supernatants are removed and tested for chemokines and cytokines by ELISA. IL-22 will increase HFLS secretion of chemokines MCP-1, Eotaxin, and IP-10, and cytokines TNFα, IL-6, and IL-8. These chemokines and cytokines are known in the art to promote inflammation through a number of activities, and increased concentrations in the joints caused by IL-22 exacerbates inflammation and RA.

The ability of human anti IL-22 antibody to ameliorate symptoms in collagen induced arthritis (CIA) was examined using the 356A11 and 368D04 antibodies. CIA is the standard mouse and rat model for studying rheumatoid arthritis, see e.g., Holmdahl et al., (2002) Ageing Res. Rev., 1:135. On day 0, male DBA/1 (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Me.) mice were injected subcutaneously in the base of the tail with 100 μg of bovine Collagen Type II (Chondrex, Redmond, Wash.) in complete Freund's adjuvant, and on day 21, the mice were boosted with 100 μg of bovine Collagen Type II in incomplete Freund's adjuvant.

Mice were monitored at least two times a week for disease progression. The disease severity was scored using gross paw evaluation as follows: 0=no swelling, 1=1 to 2 swollen digits or swollen ankle, 2=more than 2 swollen digits or mild paw swelling, 3=extensive paw swelling, and 4=ankylosis of paw. Mice injected with an isotype control antibody after the collagen injections progressively developed disease. Treatment with either 356A11 or 368D04 significantly reduced disease progression. These were blind studies so the investigators did not know which animal group received which antibody until the end of the study.

Various doses of 356A11 and 368D04 were evaluated. The treatments of 356A11 or 368D04 (or a human IgG1λ isotype control antibody) were initiated when 10% of the mice in the treatment group had a disease severity score of at least 1. The antibody was administered at various frequencies: every other day, once a week, or twice a week, and the mice were monitored for disease progression. Administering either 8 or 16 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 every other day significantly blocked progression of CIA in multiple studies as shown in FIGS. 12A-B, 13, and 40-41. Four separate CIA studies (FIGS. 13A-D), testing with 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 every other day, show that the 356A11 antibody consistently blocked disease progression in the murine CIA model. Surprisingly, twice weekly and even weekly dosing with 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 was also sufficient in multiple studies to significantly block disease progression as shown in FIGS. 14-15, 41, and 44A-B.

In the first CIA study with 368D04 (administered every other day at 16 mg kg⁻¹), little or no efficacy was observed. However, administering 8 mg kg⁻¹ of 368D04 once a week in multiple studies significantly blocked disease progression as shown in FIGS. 46A-C.

The human anti IL-22 antibody's ability to significantly block disease progression when administered once a week in the CIA model indicates that the antibody could be administered with a similar dosing frequency, or an even further extended dosing frequency, such as once every two weeks, when administered in humans.

Treatment effects of the anti-IL-22 antibody were also evaluated by histopathological analysis of the paws. At the end of the study, animals were euthanized, paws were harvested and fixed with 10% formalin for histology, decalcified, and embedded in paraffin for sectioning and standard H&E staining. The paws were scored on a 5-grade scoring method (0-4) to characterize intensity and extent of arthritis. Inflammatory infilitrates were used for scoring in addition to other changes related to the inflammation, such as pannus formation, fibrous of the synovial membrane, articular cartilage erosin and/or subchondral bone destruction. Histology grades were determined using readings of individual paws: NAD=0 or nothing abnormal discovered; 1=slight to moderate; 2=miled to moderate; 3=marked; 4=massive. The histological effect of the therapeutic administration of the anti-IL-22 antibodies are shown in FIGS. 16A-F, 42A-C, 43, and 45A-B. As shown in FIGS. 16A-F, 42A-C, 43, and 45A-B, administering 356A111 in multiple studies ameliorated symptoms of collagen induced arthritis in mice. Similarly, administering 368D04 every other day at 8 mg kg⁻¹ in multiple studies ameliorated symptoms of collagen induced arthritis in mice. FIGS. 47A-C.

In addition to histopathological evaluations, bone destruction in treated mice was also examined. At the end of the study, paws were fixed in a lateral position and X-ray pictures were taken with a Faxitron machine. The Faxitron provides high resolution x-ray radiographs, and the high magnification capability provides enhanced imaging performance. The Faxitron radiographs correlated with visual gross paw evaluation scores and showed that treatment with anti-IL-22 antibody prevented bone destruction as compared to treatment with the isotype control antibody (data not shown).

Example 14 Detection of Serum IL-22 by ELISA and Increased Detection of Serum IL-22 In Vivo with 356A11 Treatment

To date, the detection of IL-22 gene expression has only been reported at the RNA level. With the ELISA described below, IL-22 is not detected in normal mice. We have discovered, though, that this ELISA allows the detection of IL-22 in the circulation of arthritic mice. Furthermore, administration of the 356A11 antibody enables the detection of IL-22 at ten-fold higher levels. The 356A11 antibody at the doses given sequesters the cytokine, thus neutralizing its activity as shown in prior examples. With the circulation of this antibody within the blood stream, the antibody-sequestered IL-22 is now detected at higher levels with this ELISA. This is due to the unique and distinct epitopes of the capture and detector antibodies that constitute this mIL-22 ELISA. This ELISA detects IL-22/356A11, IL-22BP/IL-22, IL-22BP/356A11/IL-22 and naked IL-22, equivalently.

In the context of the CIA studies discussed previously (Example 13), arthritic mice were treated every other day with 16 mg kg⁻¹ of 356A11 antibody. At day 30 after the collagen boost, serum was collected from the mice after sacrifice. Levels of IL-22 in the serum samples were then measured by ELISA.

For this ELISA format, 1mGIL19P3/1, a rat IgG1k monoclonal anti-murine IL-22 antibody, was coated on a 96-well microtiter ELISA plate to be used as the capture antibody. Serum samples obtained from arthritic mice were serially diluted and then added to the coated microtiter plates. After allowing the samples to incubate with 1mGIL19P3/1 in the microtiter plates, the plates were washed and 2hmGIL19P3/5-bio, a rat IgG2ak monoclonal anti-IL-22 antibody conjugated to biotin was added to the plates as a detection antibody. After another incubating and washing step, streptavidin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP), which converts tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to a blue pigment and is quantifiable with a spectrophotometer, was added, incubated and the plate washed. After the final incubation with TMB followed by addition of diluted H₂SO₄ to stop the enzymatic reaction, absorbance was measured at 450 nm using a spectrometer. Alternatively, and because the detector antibody's isotype, rat IgG2ak, is distinct from the coat antibody isotype, an HRP-conjugated secondary antibody that binds to rat IgG2a antibody can also be used. Using this sandwich ELISA, we demonstrated that the addition of increasing amounts of either mIL-22BP and/or 356A11 does not affect the ability to detect a fixed concentration of murine IL-22. This ELISA has been used to detect IL-22 in the serum of mice after an i.p., LPS injection.

When CIA mice were administered the 356A11 antibody, as indicated above, IL-22 was detected in the serum at levels ranging from about 1 ng/mL to about 9 ng/mL. See FIG. 17. Conversely, the arthritic mice in the control treatment group, receiving a human IgG1λ isotype control antibody, recorded significantly lower in vivo levels of IL-22 (less than 1 ng/mL). See FIGS. 17 and 18. Thus, the 356A11 antibody captures IL-22 in vivo to produce a stabilized antibody/cytokine complex that circulates. This in turn permits the detection of in vivo IL-22 with increased sensitivity as shown in FIG. 16. In contrast to the large amounts of antibody used in the above study, it is proposed that 356A11 at considerably lower levels could also be administered and have the same effect.

Example 15 Treatment of Psoriasis

Levels of IL-22 and IL-22R RNA were measured in paired tissue samples (lesion vs. non-lesion) from human psoriatic patients using quantitative PCR. This study demonstrated that levels of IL-22 and IL-22R were upregulated in psoriatic lesions. FIG. 19. Other evidence implicates IL-22 in the development of psoriasis. For example, transgenic mice that constitutively express IL-22 present with thick skin, mononuclear immune cell infiltrates, characteristic of psoriatic lesions, and die soon after birth. WO 03/083062. Similarly, administering IL-22 to mice induces thickening of skin and mononuclear immune cell infiltrates. WO 03/083062. IL-22 also induces human keratinocyte hyerplasia, suggesting an important role in skin inflammatory processes. Boniface et al., J. Immunol., 2005174:3695-3702.

Xenogenic transplantation in SCID mice is a recognized model for studying psoriasis, see e.g., Boehncke et al. Br. J. Dermatol. 2005, 153(4):758-66. Under local anesthesia, lesional split-skin (thickness about 0.5 mm) is exised from a patient with chronic plaque-stage psoriasis. Human split grafts are transplanted on the back of 6-8 week old SCID mice. Mice are given 3 weeks to accept the graft and heal. At 22 days following transplantation, mice are injected intraperitoneally with 8 mg kg⁻¹ of human anti-II-22 antibodies, such as germlined 087B03, 368D04, 354A08 or 356A11, every other day. As a negative control, mice receive daily intragastric applications of 200 μL PBS. As a positive control, mice receive daily intragastric application of 2 mg kg⁻¹ dexamethasone in 200 μL PBS. The negative controls develop hallmarks of psoriasis, including acanthosis, papillomatosis, parakeratosis, and a dense mononuclear infiltrate. Mice are sacrificed at day 50 following transplantation and the grafts with surrounding skin are excised. One half of the graft is fixed in formalin and the other half is frozen in liquid nitrogen. Routine hematoxylin and eosin stainings are performed and the pathological changes of the grafts are analysed both qualitatively (epidermal differentiation) and quantitatively (epidermal thickness, inflammatory infiltrate). The mean epidermal thickness may be measured from the tip of the rete ridges to the border of the viable epidermis using an ocular micrometer. The density of the inflammatory infiltrate may be determined by counting the number of cells in three adjacent power fields. Disease progression may be evaluated using histological analysis to measure hallmarks of psoriasis, such as acanthosis, papillomatosis, parakeratosis, inflammatory infiltrates, and the appearance of the corneal and granular layers.

Negative control mice injected with 200 μL PBS or an isotype-matched control antibody following graft transplantation progressively develop psoriasis. Because psoriatic lesions express higher levels of IL-22, treatment with anti-IL-22 antibodies, for example with germlined 087B03, 368D04, 354A08 or 356A11, is expected to suppress or delay psoriasis, as confirmed in the adoptive transfer study reported below.

Adoptive transfer of CD4+CD45rb^(high) Tcells in scid/scid mice is another recognized model for studying psoriasis in mice. Hong et al., J. Immunol., 162(1):7480-91 (1999). In this model, coadministration of LPS and IL-12 or staphylococcal enterotoxin B into scid/scid mice 1 day after adoptive transfer of CD4+CD45rb^(high) Tcells induces skin lesions exhibiting the hallmarks observed in human psoriasis.

Using a slight modification of this model, CD4+CD45rb^(high)CD25-Tcells were transferred to scid/scid mice with or without coadmistration of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer. CD4+CD45rb^(high)CD25-Tcells were able to induce psoriatic lesions when transferred into scid/scid mice even when they were administered without LPS and IL-12. Thus, administration of IL-12 and LPS following adoptive transfer did not seem to alter the efficacy of anti IL-22 antibodies in this model.

Cells for adoptive transfer were prepared as described before with slight modification. Spleens were collected from 6- to 8-wk-old BALB/cBy donor mice (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Me.) and splenocytes were isolated by mechanical homogenization of whole spleens. CD4⁺ T cells were selected using murine CD4 enrichment kit (R&D) according to the manufacturer's instruction. CD4 enriched T cells were labeled with anti-CD4-PE (Pharmingen), anti-CD45RB-FITC and anti-CD25-APC (Pharmingen). Cells were sorted using a Moflo (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, Calif.) cell sorter. CD4+CD45Rb^(high)CD25-cells were collected and were >95% pure. Cells were re-suspended in saline at 2×10⁶ cells/ml and 4×10⁵ cells were injected i.p. into C.B-17/Prkdc scid/scid mice (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Me.). In some cases, 10 ng IL-12 and 20 ug LPS were administrated i.p. to the recipient mice that received CD4⁺CD45Rb^(high) cells on day 1 and an additional dose of IL-12 was administered on day 3. Mice were dosed with 16 mg/kg of either an isotype control antibody or anti-IL-22 antibodies (356A11 or 368D04) on the day of adoptive transfer and once a week thereafter for 10 weeks. Mice were monitored for clinical symptoms of skin lesions twice a week. At termination of the study, mouse ear, skin, lymph nodes, and spleen were harvested for further ex-vivo studies.

Clinical Evaluation

Mice were evaluated by blinded investigators twice per week starting 10 days post adoptive transfer. To record disease progression semiquantitative clinical scores from 0 to 6 were given based on physical appearance: 0=no skin or ear symptoms; 0.5=slight erythema on ear or eye lid, 1=mild, moderate erythema on ears or eyelids with mild thickening of the ear (<2% of the body surface); 2=moderate to severe erythema on 2-10% of the body surface, mild scaling; 3=severe erythema and scaling on 10%-20% of the body surface; 4=very severe, extensive erythema and scaling on 20%-40% of the body surface. 5=very severe, extensive erythema and scaling on 40%-60% of the body surface. 6=very severe, extensive erythema and scaling and scaling on greater than 60% of the body surface. Specific observations were noted based on fur condition, ear manifestations, eyelid appearance, and presence of inflammation on limbs and tail.

In the study without coadministration of LPS and IL-12, antibodies 356A11 and 368D04 significantly suppressed skin inflammation, when compared to control antibody treated mice, starting as early as day 21 for 356A11 and day 35 for 368D04 (FIGS. 20A-B). Similar results were observed in the study with coadministration of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer, with 356A11 and 368D04 significantly suppressing skin lesions, when compared to the control antibody, starting as early as day 28 post adoptive transfer. (FIGS. 27A and B). In a separate study, 356A11, without (FIGS. 34A-B) or with (Figures and 37A-B) coadministration of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer, significantly suppressed skin inflammation, when compared to control antibody treated mice, starting as early as day 21.

Cytokine Detection

Mouse serum or supernatants from the cell culture were quantitated for IL-6, IFNγ, and TNFα using an ELISA kit (R&D system). ELISA for IL-22, IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-17 A/F heterodimer involved coating a 96-well flat-bottom plate (Costar) overnight at 4° C. with 100 μl of a 2 μg/ml solution of anti-IL-22 (Ab-01), anti-IL-17A (R&D), or anti-IL-17F (RK015-01) antibody in PBS. Plates were then washed with PBS/Tween (0.05% Tween-20 in PBS) and blocked with 200 μl PBS plus 1% BSA for 1 h at RT. Antibodies to murine IL-22 (Ab-01, Ab-02, and Ab-03) and murine IL-17F (RK015-01) were generated by methods described in Li et al., Int. Immunopharmacol. 4:693-708 (2004). In between all of the following steps, plates were washed with PBS/Tween. IL-22 (R&D), IL-17A (R&D), IL-17F, and IL-17A/F standards, sample supernatants and serum samples (diluted with PBS 1:5) were then added. Biotinylated secondary antibodies for anti-IL-22 (Ab-03), anti-IL-17A (R&D), and anti-IL-17F (RK015-01) were then added to the respective plates at 0.5 μg/ml in 1% BSA/PBS solution and incubated for 1 h at 37° C. Poly HRP-labeled streptavidin (Pierce) was added according to manufacturer's instruction for 15 minutes. The plate was developed by adding TMB substrate for 15-30 minutes. Assay was then read on a Molecular Devices (Sunnyvale, Calif.) plate reader and data were analyzed using SOFTmax software.

In the study without coadministration of LPS and IL-12, higher levels of serum IL-22 were detected in mice treated with 356A11 than in mice treated with control antibody, indicating that 356A11 captures and stabilizes IL-22 in vivo (FIG. 21), as discussed in Example 14. Similar results were also observed in 356A11 treated mice with coadministration of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer. (FIG. 28). These results were replicated in a separate study with 356A11 without (FIG. 35) and with (FIG. 38) coadministration of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer. Serum IL-22 was not detected in 368D04 treated mice (FIG. 21).

In the study without coadministration of LPS and IL-12, significantly lower serum levels of IL-17F, IL-17A, IL-17A/F were detected in mice treated with 356A11 and 368D04 (FIGS. 22A-C). Also observed was a trend of decreasing IL-6 serum levels in mice treated with 356A11 and 368D04 (FIG. 22D). IFNγ and TNFα were below the detection limit in serum from mice treated with control, 356A11, or 368D04 antibodies. Similar results were also observed in 356A11 treated mice with coadministration of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer. (FIGS. 29A-D). In a separate study, significantly lower serum levels of IL-17A and IL-6 were also observed in mice treated with 356A11 without (FIGS. 39A-B) and with (FIGS. 39C-D) coadministration, of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer.

Lymph Node Cell Isolation and Stimulation

Psoriatic lesions in this model usually progress from the ear, eye, face and neck to the rest of the body. Mice treated with therapeutics usually develop mild skin lesions around the eye and ear only. Therefore, cervical lymph nodes that drain the face were isolated from each mouse to obtain the highest number of activated cells. Lymph node (LN) cells were recovered by mechanical homogenization. LN cells were pooled from about 9 to 10 mice per group and resuspended at 1×10⁶/ml in complete RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% FBS (HyClone), 5×10⁻⁵ M 2-ME (Sigma), 2 mM glutamine (Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), 10 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg streptomycin (Life Technologies), and 15 mM HEPES. A total of 200 μg/well of this suspension was then placed in a 96-well plate and stimulated with anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 (1 μg/ml each) for 48 hours.

Intracellular Cytokine Staining

To examine the effects of IL-22 neutralization on the effector T cell population, intracellular cytokine staining was performed on cervical lymph node cells. Cells were stimulated with 50 ng/ml PMA (Sigma), 1 μg/ml ionomycin (Sigma), and GolgiPlug (Pharmingen) for 12 hours. Cells were first stained for surface antigen (CD4) and then treated with Cytofix/Cytoperm (Pharmingen) according to manufacturer's directions. Intracellular cytokine staining was performed using antibodies to IFNγ, IL-22, IL-17A, IL-17F, TNFα, and relevant IgG isotype controls. Anti-IL-22 (Ab-02) was labeled with Alexa 647 (Molecular Probes) and anti-IL-17F (RK015-01) was labeled with FITC (Pierce Biotechnologies) according to manufacturer's directions.

Cells were analysed on a gated CD4+ population. FACS analysis results show that in mice treated with 356A11 and 368D04 (without coadministration of LPS and IL-12), there were lower percentages of CD4+ T cells producing IL-22, IL-17A, and both IL-22 and IL-17F, but higher percentages of CD4+ T cells producing IFNγ when compared to the isotype control treated mice (FIG. 23). Similar results were also observed in 356A11 treated mice with coadministration of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer. (FIG. 31).

Quantitation of Cytokine Transcripts.

RNA was isolated from the mouse ears or LN cells (after stimulation) using the Qiagen Rneasy kit (Qiagen). Quantitative PCR for cytokine transcripts was performed using prequalified primers and probes (Applied Biosystems). The ΔΔCt method was used to normalize transcript to GAPDH and to calculate fold induction relative to control mice.

The quantitative PCR results using RNA from mouse ears show that mice treated with 356A11 and 368D04 had lower IL-22, IL-17F, IL-17A, and IL-6 gene expression but enhanced IFNγ expression when compared to mice treated with the control antibody (FIGS. 24A-E). Similar results were also observed in 356A11 treated mice with coadministration of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer. (FIGS. 30A-E). These results were replicated in a separate study with 356A11 (without coadministration of LPS and IL-12), where it was also observed that 356A11 treated mice had lower IL-1 family 6 protein (IL-1F6) gene expression and unchanged IL-22 binding protein and IL-22 receptor subunit (IL-22R1) gene expression, as compared to mice treated with the control antibody. (FIGS. 36A-H).

The quantitative PCR results using RNA from lymph node cells, stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hrs, as described above, show that 356A11 and 368D04 suppressed IL-22, IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-17F gene expression ex vivo but affected no significant changes in IFNγ gene expression. (FIGS. 26A-E). Similar results were observed in 356A11 treated mice with coadministration of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer. (FIGS. 33A-E).

Supernatants from the lymph node cells stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28, as described above, were collected for cytokine analysis using ELISA kits (R&D system) as discussed previously. Cytokine ELISA results mirrored the LN gene expression data, showing that 356A11 and 368D04 suppressed IL-22, IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-17F secretion ex vivo but produced no significant changes in IFNγ secretion from stimulated cells. (FIGS. 25A-F). Similar results were observed in 356A11 treated mice with coadministration of LPS and IL-12 at day one following adoptive transfer. (FIGS. 32A-E).

Histopathologic Analysis

Necropsies were performed on mouse tissue upon in vivo study termination. Tissue samples from ear, trunck skin were collected and fixed in 10% formalin solution for section preparation and analysis. To record disease severity, semiquantitive histological scores from 0 to 5 were assigned based on the severity of inflammation. Histological evaluation was performed in a blinded fashion by a board certified pathologist. 0=within normal limit; 1=minimal; 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4=marked, and 5=severe.

Immunohistochemistry Analysis

Tissue samples were collected and embedded in Tissue Tek OCT (Miles, Elkhurt, Ind.) compound and frozen with dry ice for cryostat-cut sections. Tissue sections (5 μm) were fixed in 100% acetone and stained with anti-CD4, anti-CD11b and anti-neutrophil antibody (PharMingen). Tissues were evaluated as negative=0, mild=1, moderate=2, and severe=3 based on visual fluorescent microscopy detection.

Histology findings demonstrate that mice treated with 356A11 and 368D04 experienced lesser keratinocyte proliferation, rete pegs, and inflammatory cell infiltrates in the skin when compared to the isotype control treatment. Additionally, immunohistochemistry results showed that 356A11 decreased the number of CD4+, CD11b+ (macrophages) and neutrophils in the epidermal, dermal, and sub cutis layers. The histological results mirrored that of the clinical findings and support using IL-22 antagonists, such as the antibodies of this invention, as therapeutic agents for the treatment of psoriasis and other psorasis-like skin diseases.

Overall results demonstrate that antibodies of this invention, such as 087B03, 368D04, 354A08 or 356A11, are efficacious in this murine model of psoriasis and indicates that treatment with anti-IL-22 antibodies, including 087B03, 368D04, 354A08 or 356A11, provides an efficacious strategy for therapeutic intervention in human psoriasis.

Example 16 Treatment of Patients

Patients with an autoimmune disorder, respiratory disorder, inflammatory condition of the skin, cardiovascular system, nervous system, kidneys, liver and pancreas or transplant patients are among the type of patients that may be treated with the antibodies of the invention. Exemplary treatment regimens and expected outcomes are provided below. Dosages and frequencies of administration other than those in Table 14 may also be used. The skilled artisan can adjust treatment regimens as necessary based on route of administration or other known variables, such as the age, weight, condition, sex, severity of medical condition, etc. of the patient to be treated.

TABLE 14 Treatment Regimens Disorder Treated with Dosage Range Frequency Expected Outcome Multiple 087B03, 368D04, 250 μg/kg weekly, improvement or Sclerosis 356A11, or to 2 mg/kg biweekly, stabilization of 354A08 or monthly condition Rheumatoid 087B03, 368D04, 250 μg/kg weekly, improvement or Arthritis 356A11, or to 2 mg/kg biweekly, stabilization of 354A08 or monthly condition Psoriasis 087B03, 368D04, 250 μg/kg weekly, improvement or 356A11, or to 2 mg/kg biweekly, stabilization of 354A08 or monthly condition IBD 087B03, 368D04, 250 μg/kg monthly, improvement or 356A11, or to 2 mg/kg biweekly, stabilization of 354A08 or monthly condition Alzheimer's 087B03, 368D04, 250 μg/kg monthly, improvement or Disease 356A11, or to 2 mg/kg biweekly, stabilization of 354A08 or monthly condition

The specification is most thoroughly understood in light of the teachings of the references cited within the specification. The embodiments within the specification provide an illustration of embodiments of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention. The skilled artisan readily recognizes that many other embodiments are encompassed by the invention. All publications and patents cited in this disclosure are incorporated by reference in their entirety. To the extent the material incorporated by reference contradicts or is inconsistent with this specification, the specification will supercede any such material. The citation of any references herein is not an admission that such references are prior art to the present invention.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification, including claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters are approximations and may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number of significant digits and ordinary rounding approaches.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “at least” preceding a series of elements is to be understood to refer to every element in the series. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

The presently claimed invention was made by or on behalf of the below listed parties to a joint research agreement. The joint research agreement was in effect on or before the date the claimed invention was made and the claimed invention was made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of the joint research agreement. The names of the parties to the joint research agreement are 1) Wyeth and 2) Cambridge Antibody Technology Limited. 

We claim:
 1. A method of treating an interleukin-22 (IL-22)-associated disorder, in a subject, wherein the IL-22-associated disorder is atopic dermatitis, said method comprising, administering to the subject an antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to human IL-22, in an amount sufficient to inhibit or reduce immune cell activity in the subject, thereby treating the disorder, wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprises a V_(H) domain comprising three complementary determining regions (CDRs) comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:620, 621, and 622 and a V_(L) domain comprising three CDRs comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 623, 624, and 625, or wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprises a V_(H) domain comprising three complementary determining regions (CDRs) comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:602, 603, and 604 and a V_(L) domain comprising three CDRs comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:605, 606, and
 607. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the V_(L) domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 600 or
 618. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 599 or
 617. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 617 and the V_(L) domain comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 618. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 599 and the V_(L) domain comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 600. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, has an association constant for human IL-22 of at least 10¹⁰ M⁻¹.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the association constant for human IL-22 is at least 10¹¹ M⁻¹.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, blocks IL-22 mediated BAF3 cell proliferation with an IC₅₀ of 150 pM or less, wherein the BAF3 cells comprise a human IL-22 receptor.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, blocks IL-22 mediated BAF3 cell proliferation with an IC₅₀ of 100 pM or less.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, blocks IL-22 mediated GROa secretion from HT29 cells with an IC₅₀ of 1 nM or less.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, blocks IL-22 mediated GROa secretion from HT29 cells with an IC₅₀ of 150 pM or less.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a mammal.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a human.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the antibody is administered in a range chosen from 1 μg/kg to 20 mg/kg, 1 μg/kg to 10 mg/kg, 1 μg/kg to 1 mg/kg, 10 μg/kg to 1 mg/kg, 10 μg/kg to 100 μg/kg, 100 μg to 1 mg/kg, 250 μg/kg to 2 mg/kg, 950 μg/kg to 1 mg/kg, 500 μg/kg to 2 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg to 25 mg/kg, and 20 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg.
 15. A method of treating atopic dermatitis in a subject, said method comprising, administering to the subject an antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to human IL-22, in an amount sufficient to inhibit or reduce immune cell activity in the subject, thereby treating the atopic dermatitis, wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprises a V_(H) domain comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:617 and a V_(L) domain comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:618 or wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprises a V_(H) domain comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:599 and a V_(L) domain comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:600.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:617 and the V_(L) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:618 or wherein the V_(H) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:599 and the V_(L) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:600.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:617 and the V_(L) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:618 or wherein the V_(H) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:599 and the V_(L) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:600.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 98% identical to SEQ ID NO:617 and the V_(L) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 98% identical to SEQ ID NO:618 or wherein the V_(H) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 98% identical to SEQ ID NO:599 and the V_(L) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 98% identical to SEQ ID NO:600.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the V_(H) domain differs by no more than 5 amino acids from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:617 and wherein the V_(L) domain differs by no more than 5 amino acids from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:618 or wherein the V_(H) domain differs by no more than 5 amino acids from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:599 and wherein the V_(L) domain differs by no more than 5 amino acids from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:600.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:617 and the V_(L) domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:618.
 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:599 and the V_(L) domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:600.
 22. A method of treating atopic dermatitis in a subject, said method comprising, administering to the subject an antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to human IL-22, in an amount sufficient to inhibit or reduce immune cell activity in the subject, thereby treating the atopic dermatitis, wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprises a V_(H) domain comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:599 or SEQ ID NO:617.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:599 or SEQ ID NO:617.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 98% identical to SEQ ID NO:599 or SEQ ID NO:617.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the V_(H) domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:599 or SEQ ID NO:617.
 26. A method of treating atopic dermatitis in a subject, said method comprising, administering to the subject an antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to human IL-22, in an amount sufficient to inhibit or reduce immune cell activity in the subject, thereby treating the atopic dermatitis, wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprises a V_(L) domain comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:600 or SEQ ID NO:618.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the V_(L) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:600 or SEQ ID NO:618.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the V_(L) domain comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 98% identical to SEQ ID NO:600 or SEQ ID NO:618.
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the V_(L) domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:600 or SEQ ID NO:618. 